By Abdullahi Lukman
The Managing Director/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, has said that about 90 million rural Nigerians still lack access to electricity.
Aliyu said in an interview, however, that the agency has narrowed the country’s electricity deficit by providing about eight million Nigerians with the service under the Nigeria Electrification Project.
He said the agency had exceeded its targets and aims to reach an additional 17.5 million people in the next three years, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the country’s energy poverty.
The MD noted that the Federal Government, through the REA, is investing in mini-grids and solar power projects to reach off-grid communities.
He said So far, eight universities have been powered with solar energy, and six out of 42 planned interconnected mini-grids have been completed across states including Osun, Plateau, Cross River, and Niger.
Aliyu emphasized the agency’s private sector-led model, which uses capital grants to encourage private investment in power infrastructure, arguing that this approach improves sustainability and accountability.
He announced a $190 million co-financing agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), expected to provide electricity to another 1.83 million Nigerians.
Highlighting progress in local solar manufacturing, Aliyu said Nigeria has increased its solar assembly capacity from 120 megawatts to over 600 megawatts, with projections to reach nearly three gigawatts through new projects.
He said the current administration is taking a structured and results-driven approach to ending electricity poverty in the country.
