Bauchi: Futuk Gets Light After 15 Years In Darkness

By Najeeb Sani

After 15 years of living in total darkness, residents of Futuk community in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State are set to have electricity restored through a new 1,000KVA solar mini-grid project funded under a federal government programme.

The project is being implemented under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up Project (DARES), which is managed by the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), a component of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).  

Our correspondent reports that ZANO PLUS ENERGY LIMITED is developing the mini-grid, which commenced in April and is expected to be completed in October.

Speaking in Futuk, Engineer Abubakar Yusha’u Adamu, Coordinator and Supervisor of the project for ZANO PLUS ENERGY, said the solar facility would generate power equivalent to what the national grid produces from hydropower.  

“We conducted power auditing before starting to determine the population, households and businesses. 

"We have erected 170 new high and low tension poles. There were 180 old poles installed 15 years ago when the community was first connected to the national grid before it was disconnected. 

"We now have over 350 poles,” he said.  

He added that the facility has been fenced, with thunder arrestors and security personnel deployed to prevent vandalism. 

 

“Three transformers will also be installed to distribute power across the community,” he explained.  

The Ward Head of Futuk, Ahmed Muhammed, said the blackout affected every aspect of life.  

“We couldn’t grind grains, weld or even charge phones. We had to travel far for power. 

"Darkness also increased criminality and vandals destroyed the abandoned infrastructure,” he said.  

Business owners in the community expressed relief over the project, saying the lack of electricity had crippled their businesses.  

A welder, Sadi Adamu, said fuel now sells for N3,000 per litre in the area, while a grinder, Nasiru Ahmad, revealed that he spends up to N20,000 daily on generator fuel.  

Restaurant owner, Maryam, said she would now be able to operate at night and buy a fridge for drinks with the new solar power supply.  

Also speaking, Yusuf Musa Danlami, a bread maker, said they currently use firewood ovens that leave ash on bread.  

“With light, we can use electric ovens and work at night,” he said.  

Dr. Benjamin Zakka, who runs a private hospital in the area, said lack of power forces them to refer emergency patients to Gombe State.  

“Some patients die on the road. With electricity, we can conduct surgeries here and reduce our fees,” he said.  

Other residents who spoke with our correspondent pledged to protect the facility and pay their bills to ensure its sustainability.  

They expressed optimism that the DARES-funded mini-grid being developed by ZANO PLUS ENERGY under NEP/REA would boost businesses, improve security and restore essential services in Futuk after 15 years in darkness.