The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has partnered with Australian company Okra Solar and five Nigerian Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) to provide electricity to 100,000 underserved homes, impacting about 500,000 people.
According to a statement released by Okra Solar on Thursday, the initiative falls under the Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme, a $750 million World Bank-funded project aimed at accelerating rural electrification in Nigeria. The project will utilize mesh-grid technology to deliver reliable electricity to remote communities.
The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding energy access through innovative and sustainable solutions. “This partnership is part of the REA’s sustained efforts to scale up renewable energy access while powering homes, businesses, schools, and productive-use activities,” he said.
Okra Solar’s CEO, Afnan Hannan, emphasized the transformative impact of mesh-grid technology, stating that rural mesh-grids in Nigeria are already outperforming grid power reliability in major urban centers. He described the initiative as a defining moment for energy access in Nigeria.
The project, involving RESCOs such as SOSAI Renewable Energies, First Electric, Renewvia Energy, Creeds, and Electrify Microgrid, prioritizes long-term impact and scalability, ensuring that communities continue to benefit from sustainable energy access beyond the duration of the grant.
