From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has revealed that the $750 million World Bank-supported DARES initiative has facilitated the installation of 200 mini-grids nationwide, a development that marks a major step toward improving electricity access in Nigeria’s most remote and underserved regions.
While sharing insights on the status of the World Bank-funded DARES, Head of the Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Olufemi Akinyelure emphasized the need for improved private sector financing to drive renewable energy scale-up and improve Return on Investment (ROI).
In her remarks, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REA), Engineer Doris Udoh, while mainstreaming the agency’s healthcare, education, agriculture, rural development, and transportation (E-HEART) initiative and the state matching programme, explained that REA is poised to further target renewable energy projects to HEART and improve the internally generated revenues in the states.
“Historically, 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,” she said.
While delivering REA’s data-driven insights on the Jigawa State Electricity Market, the agency’s Managing Director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, assured Governor Umar Namadi of the agency’s commitment to the implementation of least-cost electrification strategies, backed up by data and efficient sustainability mechanisms.
“Jigawa State has the potential to immediately electrify 1 million people using solar mini-grids, to catalyze socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the state. Currently, REA is implementing a total of 21 ongoing mini-grid projects across 21 Local Government Areas in Jigawa State through the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) – Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST), to energize over 300,000 people. The agency highlighted key communities in Jigawa State with high energy demand for agricultural production,” Aliyu explained.
Meanwhile, Namadi, upon signing the REA–Jigawa State Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) targeted at unlocking renewable energy potentials in Jigawa State, assured Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) of the state’s readiness for strategic Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). While banking on the governor’s assurance of a stable investment climate and secure ecosystem for project deployment, RESCOs present at the Strategic Roundtable expressed interest in taking on clean energy projects in Jigawa State and optimizing the state’s clean energy potentials.
The governor applauded the futuristic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the passage of the 2023 Electricity Act.
“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,” he said.