Excited beneficiaries.
By Anietie Akpan
It was shrill and thrill in some Cross River communities as they witnessed electricity first time ever in their homes.
Cross River State Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu made this possible as he launched an ambitious electrification project to power 10,000 homes across the state using the Solar Home Systems.
“This is indeed the season of sweetness, we thank you our sweet prince”, screamed some of the excited beneficiaries.
Excited beneficiaries.
The initiative, which kicked off in Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Abi, and Ogoja local government areas, is already recording remarkable progress, with installations rapidly taking shape across the communities.
Local Government Chairmen of the benefiting areas have lauded Governor Otu for what they described as intentional and people-centered leadership, commending his consistent efforts to place the welfare of Cross Riverians at the core of governance.
The Director General of the Cross River State Electrification Agency (CRSEA), Mr. Francis Ekpo, also expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and professionalism in the distribution of the solar systems. He assured that every LGA in the state will be covered, explaining that subsequent phases will extend the installations until all local governments are reached.
An Engineer at work.
Residents of the four pilot LGAs have welcomed the development with excitement, describing it as “a life-changing intervention”.
They praised the governor for prioritizing basic needs such as electricity and pledged their continued support for his administration beyond 2027.
The project is a collaboration between the Cross River State Government and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abuja, with ASolar handling the installations.
It is expected to improve access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy while boosting economic activities, education, and overall quality of life for rural households.
