Nigeria is set to launch a groundbreaking rural electricity project next month, backed by a $750 million financing package from the World Bank.
The project, dubbed the Distributed Renewable Energy Scaleup, aims to provide electricity to an impressive 17.5 million Nigerians, making it one of the most ambitious electrification initiatives globally.
According to Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), during an interview with Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Thursday, the project will utilize renewable energy sources to achieve its target.
“Apart from India, which has successfully electrified many unelectrified communities, no other country has undertaken a project of this magnitude,” Aliyu emphasized.
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“For example, there’s a new project that we are starting next month called the Distributed Renewable Energy Scaleup project which is a $750 million financed (project) by the World Bank. The target of that project is to electrify 17.5 million Nigerians and I must say that this is one of the most ambitious projects in the world based on my understanding.”
The initiative is structured to provide power to three million people through isolated mini-grids, 1.5 million through interconnected mini-grids, and the remaining through the national grid and stand-alone solar systems. This comprehensive approach underscores the government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s significant electricity gap.
Nigeria currently generates only about 5,000 megawatts of electricity for its population of over 200 million, leaving nearly 90 million without access to electricity. The Distributed Renewable Energy Scaleup project is poised to significantly bridge this gap.
In addition to the World Bank’s funding, the project is expected to attract over $1 billion in private investment, supplemented by support from development partners such as the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The REA also plans to provide affordable energy alternatives to tertiary institutions using renewable energy sources. This move aligns with the agency’s broader objective of promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuels.
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