By Faridat Salifu
Leaders in Nigeria’s energy sector have joined forces to address the challenges hindering the growth of mini-grids across the nation.
Their collective efforts were showcased at a recent policy dialogue event named “SIGMA,” organized by the Initiative for Climate and Energy Environment Development (ICEED).
The event served as a platform to discuss the sluggish progress in expanding electricity access and underscored the significance of decentralized renewable energy solutions.
Furthermore, it offered an opportunity to unveil and validate the findings of the UK-funded SIGMA project.
Ewah Eleri, Nigeria’s Team Leader, voiced concerns about the limited scale of mini-grids in the country.
He stressed the necessity for an annual increase of at least 1.5 million new connections over the next decade to bridge the electricity access gap.
Eleri underscored the need for Nigeria to expand its electricity supply by sevenfold, reaching 42 gigawatts, with a substantial portion sourced from decentralized renewable energy options.
Scaling up mini-grids stands as a crucial step toward closing the electricity access gap.
Sesan, the Co-Investigator of the research project in Nigeria, brought attention to critical issues surrounding the current state of mini-grid development in the country.
She emphasized the importance of evaluating the roles of market forces and government in delivering electricity access through mini-grids.
Sesan highlighted the challenges related to technical, financial, and environmental sustainability, as well as the need for equitable benefits distribution, especially for women.
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Anthony Akene, the Director of the Rural Electrification Fund, stressed the significance of mini-grids in supplying power to rural communities, particularly those in remote and challenging-to-reach areas.
He acknowledged the considerable challenges faced by the mini-grid sector, including the high cost of imported solar energy components due to exchange rate fluctuations.
This situation raises concerns about the long-term sustainability and maintenance of these projects in rural communities.
Akene emphasized the necessity for increased government and stakeholder intervention to address these issues.
Joshua Gana, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, expressed gratitude to the organizers of the policy dialogue for providing a valuable platform to address the challenges of electricity access.
Gana highlighted the importance of collaboration between government agencies, private sector entities, and local communities in successfully implementing mini-grid initiatives across the country.
He reiterated the House of Representatives’ commitment to leading legislative efforts aimed at expanding electricity access to rural communities.
Senator Yunus Akintunde, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Environment, underscored the importance of decentralized electricity governance in enhancing energy access.
He emphasized the need for electricity agencies at the local government level to ensure effective governance, planning, and monitoring of mini-grid development throughout the country.
This approach would mirror local authority over basic education and primary healthcare.
This high-level policy dialogue witnessed the participation of key officials from the Ministry of Power, Rural Electrification Agency, National Climate Change Commission, the Senate, House of Representatives, the Bank of Industry, electricity distribution companies, mini-grid operators, and civil society organizations.
The collaborative spirit and commitment displayed at this event signal a promising path forward for the expansion of mini-grids in Nigeria, ensuring brighter prospects for electricity access in the nation.
