The Minister of State, Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, has disclosed the Federal Government’s desire to achieve 75% rural electrification access by 2020.

CEOAFRICA news desk came about this comment from the statement of Hajiya Zainab during the inauguration of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to State power Minister, the provision of electric infrastructure in the rural areas was expected to propel overall economic and social development in the areas and, to a large extent, also enhance the preservation of the country’s cultural identity.

She alleged that the reason for failure of most rural electrification projects in the past was due to the absence of such close working collaboration between different tiers of government, adding that the agency would now operate in full stream, as all geopolitical zones were represented on the board.

She however proposed for the agency to work towards diversifying sources of energy by looking specially at adapting local technologies and experiences,  urging that  community participation should be ensured at all levels of development of rural electrification projects.

The Chairman, Senatior Jonathan Zwingina, speaking on behalf of the board, said the agency will team up with President Goodluck Jonathan to drive the rural economy through deliberate and concerted rural electrification projects and programmes.