The Federal Government has provided over 90 units of solar-powered street lights and access roads for the residents of Pegi Community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project is under the rural electrification programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to boost agricultural activities in rural communities.

Dr Mohammad Mahmood, Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, while inaugurating the projects at Pegi community in Kuje on Friday, said it was to curtail rural-urban migration and open the rural areas for development.

The Minister, who was represented by the FCT Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Abdurahman Gurin, urged the benefitting community to make good use of the facilities.

‘’The aim of the project is to ensure development of the rural areas through the provision of road, lights and other facilities to curtail rural-urban drift and open the rural areas to evacuate their produce to the urban areas,’’ he said.

The Vice Chairman of Pegi residents’ community, Rev Feilis Ogar, said the project would encourage farmers to invest more in agriculture to ensure food sufficiency for the growth of the nation’s economy.

Ogar expressed confidence that the gesture would increase food productivity, efficiency and competitiveness across the local and international frontiers.

He said the road would provide opportunity for farmers in the area to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s food and agriculture sector and in making food more abundant for Nigerians.

-NAN