By Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has revealed that the $750 million World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme has facilitated the delivery of over 200 mini-grids nationwide.
While sharing insights on the status of the DARES project, the Head of the Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Olufemi Akinyelure, emphasised the need for increased private sector financing to drive renewable energy scale-up and improve return on investment (ROI).
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Engineer Doris Udoh, highlighted the agency’s focus on the healthcare, education, agriculture, rural development, and transportation (E-HEART) initiative, as well as the state matching programme. She explained that REA aims to target more renewable energy projects towards E-HEART and enhance 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 grid extension projects. These projects continue to serve the people of Jigawa State,” she said.
While presenting data-driven insights on the Jigawa State electricity market, REA’s Managing Director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, assured Governor Umar Namadi of the agency’s commitment to implementing least-cost electrification strategies, supported by data and sustainable mechanisms.
“Jigawa State has the potential to immediately electrify one million people using solar mini-grids to catalyse socio-economic growth and investment opportunities. Currently, REA is implementing 21 ongoing mini-grid projects across 21 local government areas in Jigawa State through the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) – African Development Bank (AfDB) Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST), aimed at energising over 300,000 people. The agency has identified key communities in Jigawa State with high energy demand for agricultural production,” Aliyu explained.
Meanwhile, Governor Namadi, upon signing the REA–Jigawa State Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to unlock the state’s renewable energy potential, assured Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) of the state’s readiness for strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs).
With the governor’s assurance of a stable investment climate and a secure ecosystem for project deployment, RESCOs present at the strategic roundtable expressed interest in clean energy projects in Jigawa State to optimise its renewable energy potential.
The governor lauded the progressive 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.