Emmanuel Ochayi
Empowering a quarter of a million households with a brighter future, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is spearheading initiatives in electric mobility, mini-grids, and home systems to empower up to 250,000 households.
Malam Mutari Ibrahim, the Director of Promotion and Outreach at REA, unveiled the agency’s plans in a statement. The agency’s impact extends beyond infrastructure.
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He said: “In response to subsidy removal, REA is implementing interventions to develop electric mobility, mini-grids, distribute home systems, deploy streetlights, potentially supporting up to 250,000 households in the coming year.”
Ibrahim highlighted the agency’s accomplishments, including deploying over 1,650 kilometers of solar streetlights, improving power, security, and economic growth in rural areas.
REA has executed 1,403 projects within the capital budget, providing solar streetlights, mini-grid projects, standalone home systems, and grid extension works.
“Through various programs, including the Energizing Education Programme, Energizing Agriculture Programme beyond COVID-19, and Economic Clusters, REA delivered more than 65 Mega Watts of power across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones,” Ibrahim stated.
In the pursuit of these achievements, REA has established valuable partnerships with organisations like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Global Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).
Ibrahim emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that, “REA is working in collaboration with other stakeholders to provide accessible electricity to homes in rural communities.”
These partnerships, including those with the Rocky Mountain Institute, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and others, are instrumental in achieving the goal of powering homes and small businesses across the country.
From 2020 to the present, REA has provided power to over 7.5 million people, including 1.5 million households, through 130 Mini-grid Projects and 1.3 million standalone home systems.
In a move, the Nigeria Electrification Project and REA secured the advance approval of a $750 million facility with the World Bank, aimed at expanding renewable and rural electrification initiatives.
Furthermore, as part of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy Programme, REA secured an additional $4 billion in capital injection grants in 2022.
This funding will enable the agency to provide clean power standalone home systems to more than 50,000 locations, including rural homes, micro-businesses, schools, and faith-based institutions.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
