The Nigerian Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has reaffirmed its commitment to closing Nigeria’s electricity access gap, unveiling major achievements and ambitious plans aimed at delivering reliable power to unserved and underserved communities across the country.
Nigeria currently has the highest number of people without access to electricity globally, a situation the present administration has placed at the centre of its development agenda.
The Managing Director of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu who’s was speaking to journalists in Kano noted that, the mandate of REA is to extend electricity to communities without power and improve supply reliability in areas that remain underserved.
Aliyu said, one of the agency’s interventions is the $750 million Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project, the largest publicly funded renewable energy initiative in the world.
Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project he explained is designed to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians through the deployment of 1,350 mini-grids, including 250 interconnected systems. Implementation has already begun, with over 900 mini-grids currently being rolled out nationwide, alongside more than 50 interconnected mini-grids expected to add over 200 megawatts to national supply.
Aliyu highlighted significant progress in implementing the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power sector and expanded opportunities for state governments, private investors and research institutions.
Under the framework he explained, the agency has conducted unprecedented state-by-state engagements with 21 states, sharing electrification data, project plans and partnership opportunities.
For the first time he said, Nigeria has also completed a comprehensive national electrification mapping exercise, identifying more than 150,000 communities and their electricity status.
According him, findings show that about 15,000 communities across the country lack electricity or suffer from unreliable supply.
“The mapping includes socioeconomic data that guides least-cost solutions, such as solar home systems, mini-grids or grid extensions, tailored to each community.”
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the REA has accelerated the local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment. Domestic solar manufacturing capacity has increased from about 120 megawatts to over 600 megawatts, with more than three gigawatts of projects in the pipeline.”
Following the maiden Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, Aliyu said investment deals worth over $435 million were signed to establish new manufacturing plants in Lagos, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Abuja, creating jobs and boosting economic growth. Nigerian-made solar panels are now also being exported to other West African countries.
He further disclosed the completion of 15 mega hybrid mini-grid projects in federal universities across the country, providing stable power for academic and medical facilities.
“Additional projects are underway in eight more universities, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka, with completion expected in 2026.”
Aliyu said, beyond households and institutions, the REA is supporting food security through its Energising Agriculture Programme, which deploys mini-grids to agro-processing clusters to reduce energy costs and improve productivity.
“Pilot projects have already delivered significant cost savings for farmers and processors, with plans to scale up interventions nationwide, including cold storage facilities for perishable produce.”
“The agency will prioritise completing ongoing mini-grid projects, expanding local manufacturing, mobilising new financing and strengthening sustainability frameworks with state governments.”
Nigeria is estimated to require about $23 billion to achieve universal electricity access, prompting ongoing engagement with international development partners and private investors.
“To ensure long-term sustainability, the REA has also established a Renewable Asset Management Company, tasked with maintaining and replacing renewable energy assets as they reach the end of their lifespan.”
This is reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable and reliable power for all Nigerians.