250,000 Households To Get Electricity In 2024 -REA

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), says it is supporting 250,000 households with electric mobility, mini-grids, home systems to boost electricity in the country in 2024.  Malam Mutari Ibrahim, the Director Promotion and Outreach (PIO) said this in a statement in Abuja. “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 said that the agency had equally deployed more than 1,650 Kilo Metres (KM) of solar streetlights, improving power, security, and economic growth in rural areas,” he said. He said that REA also completed 1,403 projects under the capital budget, delivering solar streetlights, mini-grid projects, standalone home systems, and grid extension works. “Through various programmes, including Energisng Education Programme.  Energising Agriculture Programme beyond COVID-19, and Economic Clusters, REA delivered more than 65 Mega Watts (MW) of power across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. “The agency has delivered more than 500MW of power, electrified numerous communities, created 500,000 new jobs, and attracted over two billion dollars in investments in the renewable energy sector over the past decade. “In advancing these achievements, we have established partnerships with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Global Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP),” he said. Other partnership secured are with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sustainable Energy for ALL (SE4ALL), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF). He said that the agency also secured partnership with the European Union, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). ‘Others are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Korean Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT) “In 2022, as part of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS) Programme, REA secured an additional four billion in capital injection grants. “To provide clean power standalone home systems to more than 50,000 locations, including rural homes, micro-businesses, schools, and faith-based institutions,” he said. Ibrahim said that from 2020 to date, REA had provided power to more than 7.5 million people, including 1.5 million households, delivering 130 Mini-Grid Projects, including 1.3 million standalone home systems. According to him, most recently, the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), REA negotiated and secured the advance approval of a 750 million dollars facility with the World Bank. The aim he said was to expand renewable and rural electrification initiatives, providing additional resources to Nigeria during a challenging period. Ibrahim said that Mr Salihijo Ahmad, the current Managing Director of the agency, had been a steadfast leader who has tirelessly guided REA through challenging times. “Even in the face of internal, external pressures, and resistance to anti-corruption efforts. “Upon assumption of office, Ahmad encountered a myriad of unresolved staff issues within the agency. “Recognising the immense challenge of repositioning the agency for effective project delivery, human resources became a pivotal consideration. In response, “He wasted no time in addressing concerns related to the organisation’s processes, structure, and staff welfare, with the aim of fostering a conducive work environment for optimal performance,” he said. According to him, his first step is to initiate a comprehensive institutional assessment and appraisal of the agency, carried out by a globally renowned organisational re-engineering firm.  He said that the assessment rigorously evaluated the agency’s project delivery, institutional structure, and processes to determine its capacity to meet its mandate. “The recommendations from the assessment were meticulously reviewed and approved by the agency’s board and the minister before being put into action, resulting in significant accomplishments. “Over the past few months, we have collaborated closely with the ministry of power, National Assembly, anti-corruption agencies, and process organisations to initiate further reforms within REA in spite numerous obstacles,” he said.

Grids deployment to small communities expanding productive activities- FFEAA

The Foundation for Economic Advocacy and Advancement (FFEAA) has said that thousands of grids deployed in small communities across Nigeria has increased electricity generated and expansion in productive activities. FFEAA said this while reacting to recent press release issued by the Coalition of West African Investigative Journalists (COWAFIJ) calling for investigation into the spending of over $550million repayable grant by Nigeria Electrification Project, NEP, a unit in Rural Electrification Agency, REA. FFEAA in a statement signed by its National Publicity Officer, Mr. Dolapo Olanrewaju described the entire press conference by COWAFIJ as an attempt at ridiculing the giant strides of the REA under Engr Salihijo Ahmad. FFEAA describing COWAFIJ as an arm of the opposition committed to rubbishing the Federal Government stride in the power sector,l.  The NGO reminded critics of the World Bank efforts at providing alternative sources of power for rural electrification in the country through an additional commitment of $750m grant to Nigeria. World Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Western Central African Region,Elizabeth Huybens had announced the plan of the World Bank to further strengthen Nigeria’s rural electrification success by an additional $750M, during her visit to inspect the 60KwP Mini-Grid Project in Kilankwa Community in Abuja. FFEAA maintains that the successes of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification drive have been hinged on the leadership of Engr Ahmad Salihijo, who has constantly pursued the vision and goal of the agency through unalloyed hunger to fulfill the dreams of millions of Nigerians who desire to be connected to electricity. He said “As of today, millions of kids can study at night, because of access to electricity. There can be no modern life without electricity and it is hard to think about reducing poverty without access to electricity,” the statement added. FFEAA reiterated the commendations made by Rep Philip Agbese (APC), the lawmaker representing Ado/ Okpokwu/ Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, during his courtesy visit to REA.  “During the courtesy visit, the Honorable had applauded Engr Salihijo Ahmad on the agency’s post-subsidy removal initiatives, in providing solar energy alternatives to Nigerians in a bid to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on businesses, farmers and households. FFEAA alleges that the untiring propaganda against the Engr Salihijo led REA, are the attempts of opposition mischief makers, and corrupt individuals in the power sector who are currently being investigated for various degrees of fraud by the EFCC, and who wish to bring down Engr Salihijo.  “They insist that after a flawless administration of the World Bank funds by Engr Salihijo and his REA team, and a clean sheet of affairs, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON offered him an audience to provide an update on the advancements within the nation’s renewable energy sector. “During the meeting with the Vice President, the CEO of REA, presented a comprehensive overview of REA’s strategic initiatives, notable achievements in Nigeria’s off-grid renewable energy sector, and outlined the agency’s proposed measures to mitigate the impacts of the recent removal of fuel subsidy,” He said.

Subsidy: FG provides solar alternative power to Nigerians

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad on Friday, said the Federal Government is providing solar energy alternatives to Nigerians in a bid to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on businesses and households. Ahmad, who was speaking after the inspection of REA’s Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI) project in Ayegbaju International Market, Osogbo, said the Federal Government, through REA, is setting up alternative solar energy systems to cater to electricity-underserved Nigerians. He also explained that the concept of the EEI project was to provide alternative and clean solar energy to Nigerians, so as to reduce or abolish the use of carbon monoxide petrol-powered generators. “We came to our Zonal office in Osun and we decided to do a short inspection of the Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI) that we have in Ayegbaju International Market, Osogbo. “We came to see the progress of the work and we are very happy with what we have seen here today. “The concept is to see how we can work with the market association and most importantly, work with the state government to scale up solar power supply to the whole market,” he said. He said the construction of the solar system at the Ayegbaju Market is about 95 percent completed and that the power generation of the system is targeted at 30kwp. He said at the pilot phase now, the solar power electricity is being test run on 48 shops and that in the long run, it would be extended to all the shops in the market. He said with the interaction he had with the leadership of the market, shop owners are interested in the solar power project, as an alternative power source to run their operations/shops. “What we have seen is the tremendous interest of the market people in the solar energy alternative, especially using it to replace petrol generators, in the face of subsidy removal,” he said. He said as a follow up to the inspection and interaction with the market people, he would meet and work with developers, Osun State Government and even the market association, to draw a roadmap of how the project would be sustained and scaled up to cover the entire market. He said with the solar system initiative, REA has been able to demonstrate a concept of solar power generation and supply, and that they can now bring in and work with other stakeholders to scale it up to the demand of Nigerians who are unserved and undeserved with electricity. “Over 148 sites have been audited directly by REA,” saying “support from partners, such as E-guide and Rockefeller Foundation, will enhance the Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI) project. “It is from these sites that Ayegbaju International Market, Osogbo, and Abubakar Gumi Market, Kaduna, were selected to deliver the next phase of EEI projects,” he said. He said they are taking into account the lessons learned from phase zero and one of the project initiatives and would use it as a model for sustainable and collaborative projects with state governments and Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). “Once the solar system construction is completed, the State Governments or DisCos, developers, and REA will be able to sit with the Market Associations to sign a multilateral agreement which ensures the long-term viability of the project while ensuring energy access to the markets. “These projects will also provide the much-needed relief to businesses in these markets by reducing their dependence on petrol generators while increasing the penetration of renewable energy sources,” he said.