The government has shifted its focus to the renewable energy sector to enhance supply to various sectors such as education, health, agriculture, rural communities, and transportation. Deploying mini-grids through the e-HEART project is aimed at benefiting millions of Nigerians who lack electricity, thus creating sustainable economies and reducing rural-urban drift.
An additional $700 million has been earmarked from the African Development Bank for the “Desert to Power” project, which aims to generate renewable energy from the abundant sunlight in the northern region of the country. Off-grid electricity supply is increasingly becoming a key component of the government’s plan to bridge the electricity supply gap.
The Minister of Power highlighted that renewable energy projects will impact a significant number of Nigerians and mentioned a new $750 million loan from the World Bank to address power supply challenges. The government is working on a holistic energy strategy that combines on-grid and off-grid solutions to improve the overall power situation.
The Rural Electrification Agency is actively involved in deploying mini-grids and solar home systems to provide uninterrupted power to various facilities and communities. There is a growing global acceptance of renewable energy solutions to tackle electricity access challenges, with significant attention and support from the current government.
The agency’s Managing Director emphasized the importance of sub-national governments and the private sector getting involved in the government’s programs to ensure sustainable and quality power supply to Nigerians. Plans for future projects, including the Desert to Power initiative and the National Power Central Solarization Initiative, were also discussed as part of the government’s commitment to advancing renewable energy development in the country.