The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has announced its plans to provide support to 250,000 households in Nigeria through a series of initiatives aimed at improving access to electricity. According to Mutari Ibrahim, the Director of Promotion and Outreach (PIO), the REA will be implementing various projects such as electric mobility, mini-grids, and home systems.
In a press release issued from Abuja, Ibrahim highlighted the agency’s commitment to address the removal of subsidies by actively engaging in the development of electric mobility, establishment of mini-grids, distribution of home systems, and deployment of streetlights. These initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on approximately 250,000 households in the coming year.
Ibrahim also highlighted the REA’s recent achievement of installing over 1,650 kilometers of solar streetlights. Apart from improving access to power in rural areas, these installations are contributing to enhanced security and fostering economic growth.
Additionally, the REA has successfully completed 1,403 projects as part of its capital budget. These projects include the provision of solar streetlights, establishment of mini-grid systems, deployment of standalone home systems, and expansion of the electrical grid network.
The agency has made significant strides in the renewable energy sector, delivering more than 65 Mega Watts (MW) of power across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones through various programmes such as the Energising Education Programme, Energising Agriculture Programme beyond COVID-19, and Economic Clusters. Over the past decade, the agency has delivered more than 500MW of power, electrified numerous communities, created 500,000 new jobs, and attracted over two billion dollars in investments in the renewable energy sector.
These achievements have been made possible through strategic partnerships with international organizations such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Global Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sustainable Energy for ALL (SE4ALL), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF). The REA has also secured partnerships with the European Union, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Korean Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT).
As part of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS) Programme, the REA secured an additional four billion in capital injection grants in 2022, further advancing its mission to bring electricity to remote areas in Nigeria.
With its extensive network of partnerships and dedication to rural electrification, the Rural Electrification Agency is on track to achieve its goal of electrifying 250,000 households by 2024, providing a brighter future for communities across the country.
