Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a history feat, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, has electrified Umuolu community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State with a 90.12kwh mini-grid solar power system, marking a significant milestone in the fight against energy poverty and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
The mini-grid solar, designed and installed by YEAC-Nigeria through its subsidiary, YEAC Community Energy and Development as well as YEAC-UK, would empower the local economy, improve healthcare, education, and overall quality of life the community.
The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, at the commissioning of the project, said electrification of Umuolu was just the beginning, as the organization continues to work towards its mission of promoting sustainable development and environmental stewardship across the Niger Delta region.
Fyneface emphasized that alternative livelihood opportunities and youth empowerment were the solutions in the Niger Delta, and called on stakeholders to support and continue investing in the transformative initiative of the organisation.
He said, “The primary purpose of this facility is to support the government’s and other organisations’ efforts to mitigate pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and associated environmental pollution in the Niger Delta by offering alternative livelihood opportunities powered by renewable energy and thereby reinforcing positive behaviour for environmental protection and sustainability.
“The idea of contributing to Nigeria’s oil theft mitigation mechanisms through community energy for households and its productive use also posited that with households powered, people would no longer use illegally refined petroleum products, particularly DPK and PMS, to energise their homes. This would shrink the market for illegal refiners and reduce incidents of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution, as their supply chain and demand would drastically drop in communities with clean, renewable, and sustainable solar electricity.
“In line with our government-approved mandate ‘to campaign against oil theft, artisanal refineries, and pollution,’ we have earmarked 10 solar mini-grids for installation in different communities without electricity in the next couple of years to effectively strengthen our contributions to the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution through alternative livelihood opportunities powered by clean and renewable energy for artisanal refiners and youths.
“With the successfully installation and operation of Umuolu solar mini-grid today, YEAC-Nigeria has increased the list of its initiatives aimed at oil theft mitigation mechanisms for Nigeria which include our proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative, PACORDI that recommends the innovation and legalization of artisanal refineries.
“With additional funding, YEAC-CEAD can also expand its efforts to assist Umuolu youths in establishing and growing small and medium-scale enterprises powered by this mini-grid. This will not only provide them with sustainable livelihoods but also help dissuade them from engaging in illegal artisanal refineries, which have devastating impacts on our environment, health, and the livelihoods of our fishermen and farmers.
Earlier, the President General of Umuolu Development Union, Engr. Isicheri Stanley Tabowei, said the solar mini-grid will have a profound impact on the community, fostering economic growth, improving the standard of living, and reducing carbon emissions.
Tabowei announced that Umolu community which is over 700 years old has never experienced electricity other than from generators, and appealed for the replication of the project in neighbouring communities who also have no access to electricity.
“Since the creation of this community more than 700 years ago. We have not seen electricity in this form in Umuolu, this is the first of its kind and we are very grateful to God and YEAC and their partners for making this thing happen for us. We have lived over the years without electricity and the best we know is diesel generators and I-pass-my-neigbour generators which comes at a very high cost due to fuel and diesel price.
“Today, Umuolu is being powered by solar which is noiseless and environmentally friendly. We are happy and we thank God for this. This solar-powered mini-grid marks a new era of energy independence and environmental stewardship. By harnessing the abundant power of the sun, we not only ensuring a consistent and sustainable energy supply but also reducing carbon footprint.
“As we commission this solar powered mini-grid, let it be known that Umuolu community committed no funds in the execution of this project. I thank the “Uti family” and community leadership for making the parcel of land where this project is located free of charge to YEAC and NXT Grid.
Speaking on behalf of Umuolu women, a member of the community, Mrs. Evelyn Tombia, said deceased members of the community if resurrected today, will be amazed at the electrification of the community.
“I thank God for a day like this because it has not been easy for us in this community, it is as if we are not part of this country. I thank God for bringing this project to our community.
“Even if you wake my forefathers from the grave, they will never believe that electricity supply is now in Umuolu. I pray that more projects like this will come to Umuolu community,” she said.
The power project, designed to mitigate pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution through the provision of alternative livelihood opportunities, was inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of Ndokwa East LGA, Hon. Vincent Osilonya, represented by the Supervisory Councilor for Health, Mr. Oliseh Ndudi.
