In Benin, the Ligh for All scheme which aims to provide light to the 10 million residents has just been launched. “This scheme through which solar lamps will be provided to primary school pupils and secondary school students, will allow all households to have access to electricity,” said Benin’s President Yayi Boni during the launching ceremony.

The goal of the programme should be reached in six months according to government’s projections. It will cost around $70 million which will be provided in the most part by technical and financial partners.

“This is for us a real challenge which we will overcome. We believe so since logistic chain is already in place and distributions have started,” the President affirmed.

Light for All or Lumière pour Tous should have been launched last December, Benin’s Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou told Ecofin Agency some time back. “Families, no matter how far or financially disadvantaged they are, have the right to buy a solar kit if they can, or get one free, if they can’t, in a effort for national solidarity,” he said at the time. The delay in the launching of this project is mainly due to the slowness of public administration to mobilize necessary funds for its implementation.

In Benin, only 25% of population has access to power.

Gwladys Johnson