Joseph Bakare
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is currently expanding electricity supply in Jigawa State, where it targets to provide electricity to about one million households.
The Agency is currently executing 21 mini-grid projects across 21 Local Government Areas in the State, under the Nigeria Electrification Programme – Africa Development Bank Minimum Subsidy Tender, aiming to provide electricity to over 300,000 people.
The REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, also revealed that the State has the potential to instantly electrify 1 million consumers using solar mini-grids which would catalyse socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the State.
Aliyu, stated this on Wednesday, while delivering the REA’s data-driven insights on the Jigawa State Electricity Market to Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi.
He said, “Jigawa state has the potential to immediately electrify 1m people using solar mini-grids, to catalyze socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the state.
“Currently, the REA is implementing a total of 21 ongoing mini-grid projects across 21 LGAs in Jigawa State through the Nigeria Electrification Programme – Africa Development Bank Minimum Subsidy Tender to energise over 300,000 people. The agency highlighted key communities in Jigawa State with high energy demand for agricultural production.”
He assured the governor of the agency’s commitment to the implementation of least-cost electrification strategies, backed up by data and efficient sustainability mechanisms.
The MD highlighted key communities in Jigawa State with high energy demand for agricultural production.
The Governor upon signing the REA–Jigawa State Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) targeted at unlocking renewable energy potentials in the State, assured Renewable Energy Service Companies of the State’s Readiness for Strategic PPPs.
Banking on the assurance of a stable investment climate and secure ecosystem for project deployment, Renewable Energy Service Companies present at the Strategic Roundtable have expressed immediate interest in taking on clean energy projects in Jigawa State and optimising the State’s clean energy potential.
The Governor applauded the futuristic policies of President Bola Tinubu, following the passage of the 2023 Electricity Act.
He explained, “The potential and opportunities for the development of renewable energy projects in Jigawa State are limitless, from the policy environment to the political commitment. From the comparative advantage of the State’s physical environment to the existing conducive climate. The prospects are enormous.”
While sharing insights on the status of the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up, the Head, of the Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Programme, Olufemi Akinyelure, emphasised that the NEP has so far aided the delivery of over 200 mini-grids nationwide, with the REA focusing on catalysing commercial activities to drive demand and capacity optimization.
He added that the DARES programme, now being implemented through the REA, is a $750 million programme designed to energize over 25 million Nigerians.
Olufemi emphasised the need for improved private sector financing to drive renewable energy scale-up and improve Return on Investment.
The Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Engr. Doris Udoh, while mainstreaming the agency’s E-HEART initiative and the State Matching programme, explained the REA is poised to further target renewable energy projects to healthcare, education, agriculture, rural development and transportation and improve the internally generated revenues in the states.
The REA has successfully implemented a range of off-grid energy solutions in Jigawa State over the years, including solar home systems, solar mini-grids, solar streetlights, electric vehicle charging stations, solar-powered irrigation pumps as well as a range of grid extension projects.
These projects continue to serve the people of Jigawa State.