In a bid to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges, the federal government has intensified its focus on renewable energy, buoyed by a $750 million loan from the World Bank and $700 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The government’s e-HEART project aims to deploy mini-grids to power rural communities, supporting sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and transportation. This initiative seeks to provide electricity access to approximately 80 million Nigerians currently without power, fostering sustainable economies and reducing rural-urban migration.
Speaking at a stakeholder workshop organized by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, represented by Dr. Sunday Owolabi, highlighted off-grid electricity as a pivotal component of the government’s strategy. He noted that the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program, backed by the World Bank, is set to impact over 13 million Nigerians by scaling renewable energy access nationwide.
REA Managing Director/CEO Engr. Abba Aliyu revealed significant progress in the renewable energy sector, including 124 mini-grids, 25,580 solar home systems, and 195,198 connections to 183 communities and 12 markets. The project will also deliver uninterrupted power to 3,700 healthcare centers, 25 schools per state, and solar-powered tricycles with charging stations across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Aliyu emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has given unprecedented attention to renewable energy, with the Electricity Act laying the groundwork for expanded sector involvement.
The government urged sub-national governments and private stakeholders to tap into these transformative programs. Minister Adelabu also confirmed that the Federal Executive Council approved N161 million for power substation upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, aiming to add 150MW to the grid and enhance electricity infrastructure. These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive energy solutions for Nigerians.
