EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF RENEWABLE (OFF GRID) POWER GENERATION PROJECT INRURAL COMMUNITIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the impediments to the sustainable development and management of off-grid energy infrastructure in rural Nigeria. The methodology adopted was a descriptive survey involving the administration of structured a questionnaire to rural communities and power sector practitioners in Niger state. The result obtained shows that electricity accessibility, and demands in rural communities of Niger state are relatively low as 179 respondents representing 76.5% agreed that electricity demand in rural communities is generally low in Niger state. The study also identified key factors hindering the full implementation of off-grid power generation in rural communities as lack of awareness programs for the renewable energy consumption, corruption, and political barriers which ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with mean score of 4.11, 4.00, and 3.80 respectively. Additionally, lack of proper planning and designing challenges, high initial capital costs and higher perceived risks of the renewable energy technology with mean score 3.76, 3.63 ranked 4th, 5th, 6th respectively. Results also showed the most significant factors to ensure sustainable off-grid power generation in Niger state are awareness on renewable off-grid power generation, knowledge of available off-grid energy, and proper planning and implementation with MS values 3.88, 3.84, 3.80 ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively. The study recommends that all tiers of government be duty-bound to implement off-grid projects to make the country attain its long-term plans of sustainable power supply, collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations (UN), NGOs and other institution to develop the power sector.