Millions of people across Nigeria and wider West Africa are watching closely as the country pushes forward ambitious plans to tackle energy poverty. According to Abba Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), significant progress is underway through the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which has reportedly brought electricity to about eight million previously unconnected Nigerians. This is part of a broader drive to close the country’s long-standing power gap and bring affordable, stable electricity to households and businesses, especially in rural communities.
Aliyu, speaking to media in a recent interview, emphasized that these eight million Nigerians—once among the estimated 90 million without reliable power—now have consistent access to electricity. The achievement follows what he describes as intensified efforts by the Federal Government and its partners to eliminate barriers in the sector.
The challenge of energy access remains daunting. Roughly half of Nigeria’s population, as reported by the World Bank and other international monitors, has struggled for years without regular electricity, putting a brake on economic progress, education, healthcare delivery, and overall quality of life—issues mirrored across many countries in West Africa. Yet, the project led by the REA may offer a blueprint for accelerated change, as successful pilot schemes gain the attention of regional partners like Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
“In just a few years, we have not only met our targets but have, in fact, exceeded them,” Aliyu claimed. The agency’s milestones are part of a larger commitment to get millions more Nigerians out of “energy poverty” over the next several years. He noted, “We have already provided electricity to eight million people. With ongoing programs and partnerships, 17.5 million more are projected to have access to reliable power within the next three years.”
According to Aliyu, government-backed initiatives and international collaborations are laying the groundwork for these ambitious goals. The Nigeria Electrification Project, which leverages funding and technical support from both local and international stakeholders—including organizations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)—targets rural areas, peri-urban communities, and key public institutions.
For decades, poor power supply has been one of Nigeria’s major obstacles to economic development, with up to 90 million people, largely in remote and underserved communities, lacking access to any form of electricity. These power shortages affect health centres, schools, business growth, and everyday life, impacting women, children, and small business owners most acutely. Rural communities in states such as Benue, Taraba, and Borno are often forced to rely on expensive generators or kerosene lamps, leading to high costs and health hazards. “Growing up in the village, I remember studying by candlelight because there was no light,” said Grace Okolie, a community teacher in Imo State. “Now, the solar project means our students can learn in the evenings. It has changed everything,” she told Nowahala Zone.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has outlined the Federal Government’s wider energy strategy, emphasizing multiple sources of electricity—not just the traditional grid—are now being deployed to meet these needs. “Our main objective is to secure more power generation. We are rolling out a variety of solutions, including renewables and distributed energy systems, to reach those previously left behind,” Adelabu explained during a press briefing in Abuja in May 2024.
Mini-grids are central to this transformation. The REA has launched several projects in remote communities, with Aliyu noting that eight universities—spanning from the University of Lagos to Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka—have recently been equipped with their own solar-powered mini-grids. These systems, officials say, supply uninterrupted energy for academic work, campus security, and research labs, a model increasingly replicated in neighboring West African nations.
Expanding on this, Aliyu stated the agency is in the process of commissioning 42 interconnected mini-grids, designed to deliver energy to clusters of rural settlements. “Six of these mini-grids are already operational in states like Osun, Plateau, Cross River, and Niger,” he shared. Each grid can power multiple villages, community health centres, andsmall businesses, and is developed in partnership with private sector operators under a hybrid model.
The National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative underpins this rapid scale-up. Recent agreements have secured power supply for institutions such as the University of Benin, University of Ibadan, and several teaching hospitals. According to an agency statement, signed deals include technical assistance and financial incentives to ensure timely project delivery. Regional experts have highlighted these efforts as a catalyst for more inclusive development. “Electrification is key to closing the socioeconomic gap across West Africa,” notes Lagos-based economist, Dr. Nnenna Uzochukwu. “Programs like these show how regional partnership and local innovation can drive real change.”
One critical innovation in the Nigerian model is its focus on private-sector involvement. Rather than relying solely on government contracts, REA provides capital grants to incentivize private operators to invest their own funds in infrastructure, helping ensure each project’s long-term sustainability. “We have moved away from awarding contracts the old way. By encouraging private ownership, the operators themselves have a stake in making sure the lights stay on,” Aliyu explained during the interview.
Of course, questions have been raised about the sustainability and reliability of publicly funded projects, especially in sectors notorious for stalled delivery. Reacting to concerns, Aliyu emphasized that accountability and oversight have improved under this new approach. “It is a misconception to believe government-backed infrastructure always fails. Our projects, especially those managed by the private sector, are up and running,” he insisted.
According to official reports, Nigeria is also actively working with global partners to unlock new financing. During the President’s recent visit to Japan, a $190 million co-financing deal was agreed with JICA, aiming to extend distributed access programming to another 1.83 million Nigerians. Such collaboration has drawn international attention to the country’s evolving renewable energy landscape—an area where Ghana and Kenya have also made significant gains in recent years.
Looking forward, local capacity-building is a focal point. “Before the current administration, Nigeria’s solar assembly capacity stood at just 120 megawatts. Today, it has grown to over 600 megawatts, and with new projects under contract, we expect to reach nearly three gigawatts soon,” Aliyu stated. This climb, he said, will help reduce reliance on imported solar panels—a challenge that has often stalled projects elsewhere in Africa due to fluctuating foreign exchange rates and import costs.
Despite these advances, challenges remain—not all projects are completed on schedule, and grid extension can be slower than planned in difficult terrain or conflict-affected areas. Funding shortfalls, shifting regulations, and issues with last-mile distribution have been reported in some states. Energy poverty is also a challenge beyond infrastructure, involving affordability, tariff structures, and maintenance concerns, analysts note.
Nevertheless, Aliyu maintains that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has ushered in a new focus on closing the electricity poverty gap once and for all. “For the first time, Nigeria is implementing a structured, data-driven approach, and we are seeing tangible results,” he concluded. According to local stakeholders, continued progress will require multi-sector collaboration, stable investment, and constant community engagement to ensure all voices are heard.
As these transformative efforts continue, the big question remains: can the bold promises translate into lasting change for the millions still living without reliable power—not only in Nigeria, but across West Africa? What has been your experience with rural electrification or mini-grids in your area? Drop a comment below and follow us on social media to join the conversation and stay updated on developments that shape our lives.
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