REA seeks unified approach to expand electricity access across Nigeria

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has urged a collaborative approach among various stakeholders to expand electricity access across Nigeria. Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, REA's Managing Director, stated this during the launch of the Off-Grid Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Forum in Abuja. Aliyu emphasized the need for better coordination to avoid duplication of projects, optimize limited resources and reach the most needy Nigerians with electricity.

He pointed out that AI analysis of the 2024 and 2025 Federal Government budgets revealed numerous power-related projects, indicating the necessity for improved coordination.

Aliyu highlighted that certain agencies involved in electricity projects were not traditionally recognized as major power-sector institutions. He warned that without better coordination and state involvement, efforts to expand electricity access would fail. The REA has also experienced instances of overlapping projects, which have become more prevalent as funding for the sector dwindles.

To tackle this, Aliyu proposed the establishment of a centralized platform for sector data, which would help stakeholders identify existing projects, prevent duplication and determine areas requiring new interventions.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe, who spoke at the forum via his Chief of Staff, stressed that fragmentation remains a significant hurdle in delivering electricity projects. He called for the creation of a standing Off-Grid Coordination Secretariat to monitor commitments, manage risks, convene working groups and generate shared market intelligence.

The Federal Ministry of Power will continue to guide policy through the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan, while supporting state electricity markets under the Electricity Act.

The Rural Electrification Fund's Executive Director, Doris Uboh-Ogunkoya, emphasized that coordination should be an ongoing process, not limited to periodic meetings. The forum aims to move beyond merely counting connections delivered to focus on the productive use of electricity, innovative financing, sustainability, and local capacity development.

Over 7.5 million Nigerians have gained electricity access through over 200 solar hybrid mini-grids and 1.8 million solar home system connections, with the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up program targeting an additional 17 million Nigerians and 465 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.