… Says160 mini-grids deployed across the country
BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, has expressed the federal government’s determination to accelerate electricity access through Desert to Power and other renewable energy initiatives.
The Desert to Power initiative, according to REA boss is a project to be fully funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB) with a potential sum of $700 million coming next year, 2025.
Aliyu made this disclosure on Wednesday at the opening of the ongoing 2-Day Stakeholders Engagement Workshop 2024 (SEW2024) with the theme “Powering Partnerships for Sustainable Energy Access and Innovation.”
The exclusive event, which brings together key players in the renewable sector, is a sequel to the launching of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Programme and IFC Facility Envelope, and the International Finance Corporation’s launching of $250 million financing for renewable energy service companies (RESCOs); marking a significant milestone in REA’s ongoing efforts to increase electricity access in rural and underserved peri-urban areas across Nigeria.
The workshop also saw the activation of the e-HEART, a key initiative targeted as sustainably energizing healthcare institutions, education, agriculture, rural communities and transportation.
Recall that in May 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a 750 million dollars World Bank funding for the DARES project aimed at constructing not more than 1,200 mini grid in the rural communities across the country. A project projected to impact over 13 million Nigerians.
The REA CEO also disclosed plans to kick-start the National Power Sector Solarization program, a public sector-funded project backed by President Tinubu, by next year after the approval of the budget.
Aliyu praised the President for his support in approving these programs, stating that this is the first time the federal government is providing the necessary support for rural electrification, off-grid and renewable energy.
“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the entire electricity value chain has been liberalized and the subnational and the private sectors have been given the opportunity to play a key role in providing electrification in this country,” he added.
Aliyu expressed delight at the accomplishments of the last 11 months. These include the completion of a model project called the Nigerian Electrification Project, which deployed over 160 mini-grids nationwide, installed 1.5 million solar home systems, and completed the installation of high-level mini-grids in seven universities and one teaching hospital.
“We also have seen the Rural Electrification Fund deploying over 124 mini-grids across the country. And among the 124, the one that gladdens my heart is a mini-grid that the REF deployed in a community called Kurminzurfi in Abuja, a community that has been in existence for over 100 years but without electricity,” he highlighted.
Thus, he urged the private sector to take advantage of these programs and interventions by entering into a grant and finance agreement with the Agency before obtaining funds for the deployment of infrastructure across the country.
“A lot has been provided for the private sector to benefit from these initiatives. We have created, directed the entire sector. We will create framework on that Desert to Power, we will create a framework on that National Power Sector Solarization Initiative, we will create a framework on that Rural Electrification Fund and a framework on that Capital Project. What is needed is just for the private sector to ensure quality standard of their implementation framework and harness these opportunities that have been created on these different initiatives,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who declared the workshop open commended the impactful collaboration between the REA and ASOLAR Nigeria in ensuring its success. He called for collaboration between the public and private sector players, financiers, innovators and development finance institutions to drive the sector.
According to the Minister, “We have been tasked with a national call. Unlike many nations that focus solely on carbon emission reduction for environmental sustainability, we face the dual imperative of expanding energy access while transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
“This dual challenge has shaped our approach. It demands that we prioritize decentralized solutions, which are faster to deploy and more adaptable to the realities of unserved and underserved areas.”
The Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engr. Aliyu Tukur, in his goodwill message, commended REA for the workshop that provides an essential platform for shaping the future of sustainable energy access and innovation in Nigeria.
In addition to highlighting the agency’s commitment to making sure that all electrical materials, equipment, and components meet the highest quality standards and specifications, the head of NEMSA pledged the agency’s unwavering commitment to support projects that promote the productive use of energy.