After 40 Years, Niger Community Finally Gets Power Supply

The North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL) has successfully connected the Eddah community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State to the national electricity grid after more than four decades without power.

Mr. Olubunmi Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of NSPCL, announced the milestone during the official inauguration of the project on Tuesday in Niger.

Peters, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NSPCL, explained that Eddah received a 300 KVA electrification substation designed to supply electricity directly to the community’s residents.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the project was implemented by the NSPCL Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives targeted at supporting host communities within the company’s operational areas.

Represented by Mr. Hassan Abdullahi, Consultant to NSPCL on CSR, Peters highlighted the crucial role of access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is not merely a goal in itself; it is the key that unlocks the door to achieving many other SDGs. UNDP report shows that a 10 per cent increase in energy access can reduce poverty by about six per cent in Africa,” he said.

Peters further revealed that the foundation plans to roll out additional development projects in Eddah, including a rice mill, alongside initiatives targeting education, healthcare, and water infrastructure.

He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to providing sustainable and reliable electricity to all, stressing its broader goal of enhancing the quality of life in host communities. Peters also urged residents to take ownership of the project and protect it from vandalism, emphasizing that community participation is essential for long-term sustainability.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Chioke Ugochukwu, Chief Operating Officer of NSPCL, noted that the electrification project aims to restore dignity to individuals.

“Today, the Eddah community is dignified through the electrification project that brings electricity to the doorstep of the community. The project brings about illumination, speed of life, economic empowerment of individuals, happiness, small-scale industry, and above all improvement in security,” he said.

Local leaders expressed gratitude for the project. Alhaji Garba Bala, District Head of Zumba, represented by Alhaji Garba Abara, Village Head of Zumba, commended NSPCL’s management and appealed for similar initiatives in neighboring communities.

Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Ward Head of Eddah Community, expressed optimism that access to electricity would boost business activities and enhance security within the area.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of NSPCL’s board of trustees, representatives of the Shiroro Local Government chairman, and the chairman of the Shiroro Dam Host Stakeholders Committee.