The Ogun State government has assured that the provision of electricity to rural areas will be a continuous one to stem the tide of rural-urban drift.
The measure will also improve the living standards of rural dwellers.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Mr Adetayo Adewale, while speaking at the installation of solar street lights at Temidire Ogbonselu in Ayetoro and Biotiku Ashipa in Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota local government areas of the state respectively.
Speaking during the installation, the Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director of Rural Electrification, Engr. Ismail Balogun said about 20 communities, cutting across the three Senatorial Districts of the state have benefited from the provision of the solar street lights.
Mr. Adewale stated that the effort was geared towards ensuring an improved standard of living for those in the rural communities, noting that the step would go a long way in curbing rural-urban migration and reduce it to the barest minimum, assuring that provision of electricity to the rural communities would be a continuous one.
He said: ‘’The provision of solar electricity to rural communities which is one of the mandates of the ministry is to boost the economic activities of the communities, as well as to guide against any external forces.’’
He appealed to the people of the benefitting communities to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.
Speaking on behalf of the benefitting communities, the Baale of Temidire Ogbonselu, Chief Biala Ogbonselu, who was full of praises to the state government, said members of the communities had been looking forward to such development, promising adequate maintenance of the equipment.
