The Nigerian government has secured N7.4 billion in financing to deploy a 7-megawatt solar mini-grid in underserved communities across Ebonyi State, marking a significant step in the nation’s rural electrification efforts.
The funding, confirmed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), will be provided by a Nigerian bank under a broader N100 billion memorandum of understanding. It is specifically allocated for renewable energy infrastructure at eight key sites. The project falls under the federal government’s Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) initiative, which targets the closure of Nigeria’s persistent energy access gap.
The mini-grid deployment will serve multiple communities in Ebonyi State. In the Ohaozara Local Government Area, it will cover Okposi, Mebiokpa, and Ohaozara. The project extends to Ebunwana in Edda LGA, and includes Unwana and Afikpo in Afikpo North, as well as Iboko in the Izzi LGA.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the REA, highlighted the speed of this financing milestone as evidence of effective public-private partnerships. He stated that the project exemplifies how strategic alignment can deliver immediate, tangible benefits to Nigerians by providing reliable clean energy to rural populations.
This development addresses a critical need, as a significant portion of Nigeria’s population, particularly in rural areas, lacks access to the national grid. The DARES program prioritizes decentralized renewable solutions like mini-grids to foster economic activity and improve livelihoods in isolated communities.
The deployment in Ebonyi state is a model for scaling similar interventions under the N100 billion framework. Success here is expected to demonstrate viability and encourage further investment in renewable mini-grids across other underserved regions, supporting national goals for universal energy access and sustainable development.
Comments are closed for this story.