By George Ozalla
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has taken giant strides in addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges. According to REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu, approximately 80-90 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, with the agency targeting 17.5 million people through its Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project. This initiative, funded by the World Bank, aims to deploy 1,350 mini-grids and 1.6 million solar home systems across rural areas.
The project is expected to add substantial energy capacity, with Privida Power Limited set to deploy solar mini-grids across 11 communities in Kogi State, providing over 11,027 new connections and adding 2.5 megawatts of reliable energy. The REA’s efforts are part of the Nigerian government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to aggressively address the nation’s electricity challenges.
The agency’s approach focuses on incentivizing private sector participation and delivering commercially viable infrastructure. With ongoing projects and partnerships, REA is working towards achieving universal electricity access in Nigeria. The project also contributes to the broader Mission 300 initiative, aiming to deliver energy access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
The DARES project has already shown promising results, with 198 sites submitted and an estimated 340,000 new connections projected. The REA boss emphasized the importance of a sustainable commercial framework for rural electrification, ensuring long-term viability and cost-reflective tariffs. The agency’s efforts are expected to transform lives, energize futures, and promote economic growth in Nigeria.
