Fakoyejo OlalekanThe World Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for the Western Central African Region, Elizabeth Huybens, has disclosed that $750 million will be disbursed to Nigeria for the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).
Huybens said the fund will be provided to support Nigeria’s small grid development, which will be critical in providing access to electricity to more people faster than the national grid and also expanding productive activities.
According to media reports on Wednesday, she made this known on Tuesday during her visit to inspect the 60 KiloWatts Mini-Grid Project in Kilankwa Community, Abuja.
Huybens said this is World Bank’s first national electrification project in Nigeria and it is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).
“We see at work here, about $350 million is coming to a close, and we are preparing a successor project that will be $750 million.
“We are extending our support to something that we think is critical and Nigeria is leading the world in small grid development,” Huybens said.
The World Bank director further stated she’s “impressed that the grid in small communities works and there is also the foresight to think about how one can fully optimize the use of the electricity generated to expand productive activities.
“Like the rice mill that we have just seen, I hope that in the future, we will see a lot more of that,” Huybens said, adding that electricity access in rural areas is important for development of the country.
She also explained that access to electricity will enable the country to transition to electric vehicles, so without electricity, there can’t be modern life.
“We cannot move toward electric vehicles if we don’t have electricity. You cannot even charge your cell phone without electricity.
“So, it is hard for me to think about modern life without electricity and it is hard for me to think about reducing poverty without access to electricity.
” And since the World Bank’s overarching goal is to help countries eradicate poverty, we need to help them provide access to electricity for its population.”
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