The Kuajok Town Council in Kwajok town of Warrap State has installed solar-powered street lights on roadsides and within the market.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, John Akol, Kuajok town mayor, said: “We installed street lights because gangs have been disturbing traders by stealing their goods in the market, so I contracted a Sudanese company to install lights.”
“The government is charging traders something small as cost sharing, so the traders are paying 750,000 SSP, and the government is providing steel poles and wiring connection. This has improved the security in the town these days, but the connectivity is ongoing,” he added.
Akol said that the town council has embarked on town planning in preparation for the arrival of the newly appointed governor of Warrap State.
Ibrahim Ali, a Sudanese trader in Kuajok town, said:”The initiative to install street lights is good. Previously it was hard for the police to see thieves at night, but now lights are everywhere along the main roads, and it has helped to restore security.”
The trader revealed that they had paid some money as their contribution to the installation of streetlights in the town. “We paid some money in South Sudanese Pounds. Although it is expensive, it is good for security,” he said.
Chol Bol, a South Sudanese trader, said the security situation within the market has significantly improved thanks to the security lights.
“I am the Manager of Weermir General Trading and Investment, and I can say that the installation is done, and the security has improved a bit,” he said. “Lights allow us as traders to work for more hours, and now we close shops at 10 pm, and before, we used to close at around 8 pm.”
More than 90 per cent of South Sudan’s population lacks access to a national power grid, and 70 per cent of businesses rely on diesel-powered generators, significantly limiting output.
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