“LIGHTS ON FOR NIGERIA: REA & ECOWAS JOIN FORCES TO POWER 15 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS “
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed an MoU with ECOWAS to electrify 15 public health and education facilities using solar PV systems, marking a major step towards improving electricity access.
Key Issues:
– _”Electrifying health centres and schools means improving healthcare delivery, enhancing learning conditions, and strengthening community development.”_ – Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, REA MD/CEO
– Grant Funding: ECOWAS to provide $700,000 grant for solar PV systems in FCT, Niger, and Nasarawa States.
– _”This pilot phase in Nigeria is a cornerstone of our regional strategy to eliminate energy poverty.”_ – Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission President
– Regional Collaboration: Partnership aims to power West Africa’s future with sustainable solar solutions.
– _”By providing sustainable solar solutions to schools and clinics, we are not just lighting up buildings; we are powering the future of West Africa.”_
In alignment with the ECOWAS agreement, REA also signed an MoU with the Niger State Government to enable access to ECOWAS funding and provide counterpart support for project sites within the state. The Niger State Government will collaborate with REA on coordination, co-financing, and monitoring of installations in selected facilities.
Expressing his support for the subnational partnership, the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, stated: “Our partnership with the REA is a testament to our administration’s ‘New Niger’ agenda, which prioritizes sustainable infrastructure.
By implementing these solar projects, Niger State is ensuring that our rural health and educational facilities have the reliable power they need to serve our people effectively. We remain committed to providing the necessary counterpart support to make this initiative a lasting success.”
This dual-level partnership structure with ECOWAS and subnational cooperation with Niger State strengthens institutional coordination and ensures efficient delivery of the pilot project.
The project is expected to improve energy reliability in rural public facilities, reduce dependence on diesel generators, lower operating costs, and promote clean energy adoption in line with Nigeria’s national energy policies.
Through this collaboration, REA continues to advance its mandate of electrifying unserved and underserved communities while leveraging regional partnerships to unlock sustainable financing and scale impact.
About the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyze economic growth and improve quality of life for Nigerians.
The Agency was established under section 127 of the Electricity Act 2023.
The REA is currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES), National Public Sector Solarization Initiative (NPSSI), Solar Power Naija (SPN), Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP), Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification, Research and Innovation Hub. Africa Mini Grids Programme (AMP), Derisking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions (DSOLS), the Korean Energy Project, Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development And Transportation (e-HEART) and the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP).
The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects, which includes conducting feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private sector developers, and project stakeholder engagements.
About ROGEAP
The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) is a World Bank-supported regional initiative implemented by ECOWAS to promote the development of off-grid solar markets and increase access to clean energy solutions across West Africa and the Sahel.
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