New Telegraph 
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has reiterated that the Federal Government is resolved to expand energy access for economic growth and national development.
He spoke while receiving a delegation of Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) in his office. He added that the target remained the target of the administration, according to a statement by his media aide, Mr. Bolaji Tunji.
The minister said the target would be achieved through the use of both grid and off-grid solutions, encompassing those connected to the Industrial grid and those that are in rural areas, the unserved areas that are using mini grids, solar and other forms of renewable energy.
Adelabu stated that one of the Power sector’s targets is to bridge the poverty gap and completely eliminate it for prosperity among Nigerians, noting that women are a force to reckon with when it comes to bringing positivity and productivity in any atmosphere.
He said: “When we talk about this energy access, the main target is to enable us to grow the industry that can actually create employment for our youth and to also enable us to substitute imports as we are a heavily dependent country which is not good for our economy.
“We also use it to promote our export by adding value to our primary resources, by promoting local manufacturers.” The minister stated that the need to build local capacity cannot be over emphasised as the sector is looking towards growing Nigerians in the rural areas in terms of agricultural processing, irrigation.
He added that women had dominance in that part of the Sector’s target. He said: “We must build our local capacity to enable us to achieve our actual sustainability by ensuring that our people can actually produce what they can consume.” According to him, supporting policies have been put in place in order to achieve the sectorial target.
