By Abbas Nazil
The Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the sustained implementation of the $750 million power project to benefit 17.5 million Nigerians.
He described the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) as the world’s largest single distributed energy initiative, through solar mini-grids and standalone systems.
Abbas Aliyu who double as Chief Executive Officer of REA disclosed this on Tuesday at the official launch of the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the project, which was approved by the World Bank, is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency as part of broader efforts to expand energy access, reduce generator dependence and stimulate green economic growth.
Aliyu said the initiative is designed to replace more than 280,000 diesel and petrol generators across the country, cutting carbon emissions while providing reliable and affordable electricity to households and businesses.
The MD explained that the electrification project is expected to directly support about 237,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by improving power supply, lowering operating costs and unlocking productivity in rural and semi-urban communities.
He emphasised that DARES builds on the successes of the Nigeria Electrification Project and seeks to scale up private sector-led off-grid renewable energy solutions nationwide.
Explaining the benefits of the power project, Aliyu said the programme will accelerate the deployment of solar mini-grids and standalone home systems, ensuring that communities outside the national grid are not left behind in Nigeria’s energy transition.
The DARES initiative also includes a strong financing component, with partnerships involving financial institutions such as First City Monument Bank to facilitate a ₦100 billion financing facility for renewable energy developers.
The financing arrangement, according to him, is expected to catalyse investments, de-risk projects and expand access to affordable capital for companies operating in the off-grid energy space.
Stakeholders noted that the scale of the intervention positions Nigeria as a global leader in distributed renewable energy deployment, aligning energy expansion goals with climate action and sustainable development priorities.
NatureNews notes that expanding distributed renewable energy will not only address Nigeria’s electricity deficit but also reduce reliance on fossil fuel generators that contribute significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysists view the DARES project as a strategic shift toward sustainable infrastructure, green jobs and climate-resilient growth, while strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors.
With implementation on-going, officials expressed confidence that the combination of multilateral funding, institutional backing and private sector participation will accelerate progress toward universal energy access and position Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s clean energy transformation.
