NEWS RELEASE – Iponri Market Solar Electrification Project Inspection

IPONRI MARKET SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT INSPECTION
Saturday, 19th January, 2019

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Rural Electrification Agency, is implementing the Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI) which supports the rapid deployment of off-grid electricity solutions to provide clean, safe, affordable and reliable electricity to economic clusters (e.g., market places, shopping centres, industrial facilities) in Nigeria through private sector developers. EEI aims to assist over 80,000 shops within a year, empower over 340,000 micro, small and medium size enterprises, create over 2,500 jobs with the initial 16 economic clusters while serving over 18 million Nigerians.

This initiative is already transforming businesses across the country with the steady power supply increasing economic activity, spurring business growth, fostering job creation and enhancing the business experience.

On Saturday, 19th January, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Power, Works & Housing, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, inspected the Iponri Market Solar Electrification Project in company of the Managing Director/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and other dignitaries.

Iponri market is a shopping complex located in Surulere, Lagos. It attracts customers from all over the country as it serves the exponentially growing wedding and party industry in the country. Businesses in Iponri market are mainly souvenir shops, electronic products, tailoring, financial and printing services. The market is being electrified with world-class solar stand-alone systems technology within hubs installed across the market. It also has an onsite state-of-the-art customer service shop with an extensive remote sensing network set up and managed by the private sector developer – Iponri Market Energy Solutions Limited (IMESL). Iponri market has 450 shops which are currently metered and energized with the remaining shops expected to be completed later this year.

“The people that drive our economy deserve reliable electricity. They are in markets, they are in shopping malls, they are in corners, they are in small shops. They constitute the best in any economy. This administration understands energy is an important component of their business. Now the solution that has been deployed it has reduced the cost they incure to run their businesses. We are now also implementing, a policy that no government before us committed to, developing energy through mini grids. Iponri market is now being powered by solar. This solution is also in Sabon Gari market, Kano state and it is coming up in many other markets.” – Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, H.E Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

“Iponri further underscores the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to the deployment of clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions in our markets by providing the enabling environment for targeted economic growth through private sector partnerships. – Damilola Ogunbiyi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency

“Iponri Market Energy Solutions Limited is honoured that the Honourable Minister is visiting Iponri Market Energy Solutions here at Iponri market. This visit has shown that a decentralized model of energy provision is in line with the objectives of the Energizing Economies Initiative.” – Ademola Adesina, CEO Rensource/Iponri Market Energy
Solutions Limited

“I am very happy to come to my shop now since there is clean and constant solar power supply waiting for me in my shop.” – Mrs. Morounke Odubiro, Shop owner
(Iponri market)

“The solar power solution will eradicate noise and air pollution in the market and has encouraged customers to spend more time in the shop” – Mr. Wasiu Oriade Adetunji, Chairman (Baba Oloja), Shop Owners Association (Iponri market)