Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the federal government is focusing on putting an end to power problems across markets in Nigeria.
Osinbajo was speaking at the flag off of the pilot project of Special Intervention in Energising Markets as Productive Clusters at Isikan Market in Akure.
According to him, the project is to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs in the country through adequate power supply.
He said, "We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri market in Kano and we focusing on markets in Lagos as well.
"We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.
"This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter, it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken."
He also promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.
In her response, the Iyaloja of Isinkan, Chief(Mrs.) Bolarinwa Temidayo appreciated the federal government for the project.
According to her, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.
She further said major markets in the state have been experiencing outright blackout which has greatly affected their work.
She also appealed to the government to ensure the project is extended to all other major markets in the state.
The project is powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and the Ondo State Government's Office of Public Utilities.
The solar power used as pilot project is 3kw capacity meant to serve 14 lock-up shops in Block I of Isinkan Market, Akure.
A total of 8,750 matket shops in Akure across Oja Oba, NEPA and Isolo markets have been profiled as beneficiaries of the intervention consequent upon the success of the pilot scheme.
