The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has entered into grant agreements with nine renewable energy companies to bring electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.
This collaboration marks the first major step of the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, which officially launched in 2024.
At a signing ceremony held in Abuja on April 29, 2025, Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of REA, explained that the initiative aims to electrify 17.5 million Nigerians by deploying 1,350 mini-grids.
The companies involved in the project include Privida Power Limited, Baobab Plus, Salpha Energy, Asolar, NTA-StarTimes, A4&T Power Solutions, Sunking Greenlight Planet, Bboxx, and D.Light.
Aliyu noted that this project is part of the global Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide energy access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, and that it aligns with Nigeria’s goal of achieving universal electricity access.
The REA’s plan is to deploy interconnected mini-grids to improve the reliability of electricity supply to underserved communities, particularly in Band D and E areas.
The project will focus on two key components: deploying mini-grids, both isolated and interconnected, and providing solar home systems.
Currently, 198 project sites have been identified, with an estimated 340,000 new connections and a projected addition of 47 megawatts of clean energy to the national grid.
Aliyu highlighted that Privida Power Limited’s 11 sites alone would add over 2.5 megawatts of reliable energy, enabling 11,000 new connections.
Meanwhile, the eight other companies involved will deploy 1.6 million solar home systems across rural areas.
Aliyu expressed optimism that these efforts would address Nigeria’s energy access challenges and said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is committed to reforming the country’s power sector.
“The 18 million Nigerians without electricity will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to initiatives like DARES and other REA projects,” he stated.
Mr. Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), praised the initiative for its wide-ranging social impact, stating that each new connection under DARES would improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
“The 11,027 new connections under this project will change lives, energize futures, and contribute to a more inclusive Nigeria,” Akinyelure remarked.
Akinyelure further emphasized that DARES is intended to stimulate the off-grid energy market by providing grants for mini-grid and standalone solar projects.
These renewable energy solutions, he said, are key to offering reliable, affordable electricity to off-grid communities, helping unlock their potential for social and economic progress.
Privida Power Limited, which secured a grant under the Performance-Based Grant sub-component for isolated mini-grids, will deploy solar mini-grids in 11 Kogi communities, providing over 11,000 new connections.
The remaining companies will deploy solar systems to households and small businesses across rural Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the companies, William Akalume, CEO of Privida Power Limited, expressed confidence in the success of the project, noting that partnerships like these are essential to achieving Nigeria’s energy access goals.
