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#ICYMI: “Today, We Are Saying Bye Bye to Darkness in Bende Federal Constituency” — Benjamin Kalu Declares, Flags Off Solar Power Project for 42,000 Bende Households, Distributes 26 Transformers
#ICYMI: “Today, We Are Saying Bye Bye to Darkness in Bende Federal Constituency” — Benjamin Kalu Declares, Flags Off Solar Power Project for 42,000 Bende Households, Distributes 26 Transformers
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has launched an ambitious rural electrification initiative targeting 42,000 households across the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, alongside the distribution of 26 power transformers to improve access to electricity and stimulate economic activities in local communities.
The Renewed Hope Light Up Project, which was flagged off on Monday, October 26, 2026, is designed to address longstanding electricity challenges in the constituency through a two-pronged approach: providing solar-powered lighting systems for households and connecting communities to the national electricity grid through transformer installations.
The initiative represents a major intervention aimed at improving living conditions, strengthening community security, supporting small and medium-scale enterprises, and expanding economic opportunities for residents who have endured years of inadequate electricity supply.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the second phase of the solar lighting project, Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, explained that the initiative was informed by a comprehensive needs assessment conducted across the constituency.
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According to him, the assessment identified persistent darkness and limited access to electricity as some of the most pressing challenges affecting the economic and social development of the people.
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“In representation, one of the key expectations of the office of a representative is to do needs analysis, and in the course of doing needs analysis.
“We discovered that one of our greatest problems in this federal constituency is darkness, lack of access to power and that has affected our economic life, the security life of the community, the human capacity development and job creation, all of which fall under the proposition of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the eight agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who from the start intended to improve the economic life of our nation, starting from the communities; create more jobs; improve the security of our communities, human capacity development, agriculture and food security and the list goes on,“ Rep. Kalu stated.
The Deputy Speaker explained that the intervention was conceived to deliver practical benefits to ordinary residents by bringing electricity closer to homes and businesses, rather than limiting development initiatives to major urban centres.
He noted that while the solar lighting systems would provide an alternative source of energy for households, the transformers would enable communities to access electricity from the national grid, particularly for commercial and productive activities.
Kalu described the initiative as a constituency-level implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that improved electricity access would contribute to several of the administration’s development priorities, including job creation, security, human capital development, agriculture and food security.
“What we are doing today has a multiple effect, a ripple effect that trickles down to different aspects of this Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
“Today, we stand as the partners of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. We call ourselves Renewed Hope Partners.
“We are members of APC, Bende constituents who believe in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his agenda to improve the lives of the people of Nigeria starting from Bende federal constituency.
“What we are here to do is to drive that vision home, by making it a mission that our people can feel, touch and experience. Light before now to many homes in Bende seemed to be luxury. That has been demystified,” the Deputy Speaker stated.
Kalu further disclosed that he presented the proposal to President Tinubu, highlighting the need to provide electricity to 42,000 households and improve the living conditions of families across the constituency.
He explained that the proposal was driven by the desire to enable children to study at night without relying on kerosene lanterns, while also allowing households to power electric fans, charge mobile phones and enjoy other basic conveniences associated with electricity.
The Deputy Speaker expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting the project and other development initiatives in Bende and the wider South-East region. He maintained that the programme was designed to ensure that residents of rural communities directly experience the benefits of government policies and interventions.
“Let me thank the President for initiating Renewed Hope Agenda which has been the roadmap towards the achievements we have made in the last few years.
“There is nothing we are doing in Bende, in Igboland as members of this government that has not been approved by the President. He is a President that loves the south Easterners and he is making sure that most of the landmark initiatives commence from this area of the country.
“Today, we are saying bye bye to darkness in Bende Federal Constituency,” Kalu said.
Providing details of the implementation plan, Kalu disclosed that the solar distribution would be carried out in batches of 10,000 households until the target of 42,000 beneficiaries was achieved.
He revealed that 1,000 solar units had already been distributed to beneficiaries drawn from the 13 electoral wards, with representatives of the communities present at the ceremony to witness the rollout.
According to him, the first batch of 10,000 solar lighting systems would be completed within two weeks, after which another batch of 10,000 units would be deployed.
The arrangement, he explained, would allow the project to progress systematically across the constituency until all targeted households had been covered.
Kalu also assured beneficiaries that the solar systems were designed to provide long-term service, with each unit expected to last for 10 years under the arrangement made with the installers.
He added that a maintenance agreement had been incorporated into the project to ensure that beneficiaries would not be abandoned if the equipment developed faults, provided such damage was not caused by the users.
“The people who are handling this have said that this particular solar will serve our people for 10 good years which means you are not going to look for kerosene to power your lanterns in 10 good years, where to charge your phone, power fan.
“The arrangement we have made with them is that if anything goes bad, we will invite them to come back and fix it as far as you didn’t break it,“ he said.
Reassuring residents about the pace of implementation, the Deputy Speaker said the distribution would continue without interruption until the first 10,000 installations were completed and the next phase commenced.
“In the next two weeks, I am sure this 10,000 will be done with and another 10,000 will come in and that is how we will follow it until we finish,” he disclosed.
To ensure transparency, accountability and proper distribution, Kalu disclosed that the solar installations would be geo-located and programmed through a dedicated application.
He warned beneficiaries against attempting to move solar units allocated to one community to another, explaining that the systems were configured to correspond with their designated locations.
The Deputy Speaker said the technology-driven monitoring arrangement would help prevent diversion, ensure that the intended beneficiaries received the equipment and promote the effective implementation of the project.
He also described the initiative as an unprecedented intervention, claiming that it was the first time 42,000 households in a single federal constituency in Nigeria would be targeted for solar-powered electricity.
“All the installations will be geo-located through the App. Let me warn. Don’t take your own meant for Item to Ozuitem, it will not work. They are all programmed. This is the first of its kind in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that 42,000 homes will receive light in a federal constituency,” he said.
Beyond household solar power, the Deputy Speaker announced the distribution of 26 new power transformers to communities across Bende Federal Constituency.
Under the arrangement, each of the 13 electoral wards is expected to receive two transformers to improve access to the national grid and support economic activities at the grassroots.
Kalu explained that while solar systems would address basic household electricity needs, transformers remained essential for businesses requiring a more substantial and continuous power supply.
He identified refrigeration, welding, small-scale manufacturing and other commercial operations as activities that could benefit from improved electricity infrastructure.
According to him, the transformer intervention was specifically designed to complement the solar project by providing the infrastructure required for businesses to expand, increase productivity and create employment opportunities.
“Just like we promised that the light in Bende is in two phases, we have the one for national grid and then, we have places that have not experienced the effect of national grid. Based on that, we requested for alternative source of energy that is environmentally friendly and we chose solar.
“But we also know that while solar handles the home, the small and medium scale enterprises across Bende need support to power fridges, welding machines, small scale industries, you need a transformer to pick up power from the national grid.
“So, we have made provisions for all the Wards. Every Ward in Bende Federal Constituency wil receive two transformers.
“The decision on where they will be located will not be based on sentiment and will not be political. It will be needs-influenced decision. It will be decision based on lack of access to electricity. Thereafter, all parts will follow.
“So, my advise to the leaders when you go back is that these should not be packed in anybody’s home. They should be placed around the place it will be easier to be hooked to the national grid to be begin to serve greater number of the people.
“We must choose a location where wider number of our constituents will enjoy access to electricity.
“We are doing all this because of the ripple effect power brings. If you see us distributing solar fans, it is to prevent the heat waves so that Bende people will not be badly impacted by the heat wave that is coming from the global warming.
“We also believe that these transformers will add values that will protect us from global warming,“ he declared.
The Deputy Speaker emphasised that the locations of the transformers would be determined by the actual electricity needs of communities rather than political considerations or personal interests. He urged community leaders to ensure that the equipment was installed in accessible locations where it could serve the greatest number of residents.
Kalu also called on traditional rulers, Presidents-General of town unions and youths to protect the transformers against theft, vandalism and other forms of interference.
He stressed that the infrastructure was intended to serve every constituent, regardless of political affiliation, describing any attempt to tamper with the equipment as economic sabotage.
“I want to thank Bende people for sending me to Abuja. I want to thank them for making that decision. The decision is what is fetching what is happening here today and many more that we have done as well as much more that we will do in the coming days.
“Secure these transformers when it gets to your place. It will be economic sabotage if you tamper with them. They should be protected by the youths, the Presidents-General and the traditional rulers because it is meant to serve Bende communities and everyone in Bende both those in APC and those not in APC. These transformers do not know the colour of political parties. It will serve everyone that I am representing,” Kalu said.
In another major development, Kalu signed a ₦100 million contract with the electricity company responsible for installing the transformers to facilitate the restoration of electricity to Item and Alayi wards.
The two communities, according to the Deputy Speaker, had been disconnected from electricity supply for years, leaving residents and businesses to contend with prolonged power challenges. The contract is expected to support efforts to restore electricity to the affected areas, complementing the wider electrification programme being implemented across the constituency. The intervention is particularly significant for residents and entrepreneurs whose daily activities depend on reliable electricity, including traders, artisans, small-scale manufacturers and other business operators.
Combined with the solar lighting initiative and transformer distribution, the restoration project is intended to provide a broader response to electricity challenges in Bende, addressing both household needs and the requirements of local businesses.
The commissioning ceremony attracted constituents from the 13 electoral wards, alongside Presidents-General of various town unions and other community representatives. Some of the attendees testified to what they described as effective representation by Kalu and commended the projects and interventions being undertaken across the constituency.
They expressed appreciation for the solar lighting initiative, the provision of transformers and the proposed restoration of electricity to Item and Alayi.
The constituents subsequently pledged their support for Kalu and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing their desire for the continuation of the people-oriented projects.
The Renewed Hope Light Up Project is expected to improve household living conditions, support children’s education, enhance community safety and provide relief to families that have long depended on kerosene lanterns and other alternatives to conventional electricity.
With the planned rollout of 42,000 solar units, the distribution of 26 transformers and the ₦100 million electricity restoration contract, the in tervention places access to power at the centre of Kalu’s constituency development agenda in Bende Federal Constituency.
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