Tunde Bakare
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says it will intensify electricity supply chain efforts to ensure Nigeria’s underserved communities are reliably supplied with clean energy.
The REA, further reaffirmed its commitment to the Nigerian rural electrification initiative, aiming to close the country’s electricity access gap.
The REA, highlighted significant achievements and ambitious plans to deliver reliable power to unserved and underserved communities nationwide.
Currently, Nigeria has the largest number of people without access to electricity globally, making it a top priority for national development.
The Managing Director of REA, Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, while speaking in Kano, said the Agency focuses on providing electricity to communities without power while improving reliability in partially served areas.
He emphasised the $750 million Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project as a core intervention. Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project will supply electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians via 1,350 mini-grids, including 250 interconnected systems. Implementation has begun. Over 900 mini-grids are operational, and more than 50 interlinked systems will add over 200 megawatts to the national grid.
Aliyu highlighted progress in implementing the Electricity Act 2023. The Act decentralised the power sector, creating opportunities for state governments, private investors, and research institutions. Under this framework, REA engaged with 21 states, sharing electrification data, project plans, and partnership opportunities.
For the first time, Nigeria completed a national electrification mapping exercise, identifying over 150,000 communities and assessing their electricity status. The findings revealed that about 15,000 communities still lack electricity or experience unreliable supply.
“The mapping integrates socioeconomic data to guide least-cost solutions,” Aliyu explained. “These include solar home systems, mini-grids, or grid extensions, designed for each community’s needs.”
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, REA has accelerated domestic renewable energy manufacturing. Solar capacity has increased from 120 megawatts to over 600 megawatts, and more than three gigawatts of projects are in the pipeline.
Following the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, REA signed investment deals worth over $435 million. These projects will establish manufacturing plants in Lagos, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Kano, and Abuja. They are creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and enabling Nigerian-made solar panels to reach other West African nations.
REA has completed 15 mega hybrid mini-grids in federal universities, supplying stable electricity to academic and medical facilities. Eight more universities are expected to complete their projects by 2026.
Beyond households and institutions, REA supports food security through the Energising Agriculture Programme. This initiative deploys mini-grids to agro-processing clusters, reducing energy costs and increasing productivity. Pilot projects have already delivered significant cost savings for farmers and processors. REA plans to expand interventions nationwide, including cold storage for perishable produce.
The agency will prioritise completing ongoing mini-grid projects, expanding local manufacturing, mobilising financing, and strengthening sustainability frameworks with state governments. Nigeria requires approximately $23 billion to achieve universal electricity access. Consequently, REA continues to engage international partners and private investors.
To ensure long-term sustainability, REA established a Renewable Asset Management Company to maintain and replace renewable energy assets as they reach the end of their lifespan.
Ultimately, the Nigerian rural electrification initiative reinforces the government’s commitment to sustainable and reliable power for all Nigerians. This initiative will continue to transform energy access, support economic growth, and enhance living standards nationwide.