Precious Anga
Lagos — Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that electricity supply will improve significantly before the end of 2026 as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to rehabilitate the national grid while accelerating off-grid renewable energy projects to expand access to electricity nationwide.
Tegbe gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the media launch of the Africa Mini-Grid Programme (AMP) Nigeria Pilot Project, a renewable energy initiative jointly implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The programme has delivered 23 solar-powered mini-grids across underserved communities in 15 states, providing electricity to about 20,000 households and benefiting more than 50,000 people, while supporting agriculture, small businesses and other productive economic activities.
Speaking at the event, the minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to addressing decades of neglect in the power sector through investments in both grid and off-grid infrastructure.
“Before the end of this year, Nigerians will see a significant improvement in electricity delivery,” Tegbe said.
He, however, cautioned that the country’s electricity challenges would not disappear overnight.
“What was badly managed for 50 years cannot be resolved in six months. We are fixing the infrastructure, fixing the main grid, building off-grid assets where necessary and strengthening the resilience of the entire electricity network. The key thing is to give Nigerians electricity,” he said.
Tegbe described renewable energy as a core component of Nigeria’s electricity strategy rather than a substitute for conventional power generation.
“Renewable energy, especially solar technology, is not an alternative source of power. It is not a generator solution. It is an integral part of our national power architecture,” he said.
According to him, the Federal Government is deploying different energy solutions based on the needs of individual communities, with mini-grids providing electricity to areas beyond the reach of the national transmission network.
The minister commended the partnership between the REA, UNDP and GEF, describing the Africa Mini-Grid Programme as a practical demonstration of how collaboration can accelerate universal electricity access.
He said the initiative has gone beyond installing power infrastructure by improving livelihoods through reliable electricity for healthcare, education, agriculture and businesses.
Tegbe noted that the 23 mini-grids have strengthened local economies by powering homes, commercial activities and productive enterprises, while host communities have taken ownership of the facilities.
He also welcomed plans to expand the programme, disclosing that a second phase will deliver 50 additional mini-grids and extend electricity access to another 50,000 households.
The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the programme has proven that reliable electricity can transform rural communities by boosting agricultural productivity, supporting local businesses and creating employment opportunities.
According to him, the project’s impact extends far beyond the number of mini-grids installed.
“The true impact of the AMP is found in the rice processor whose productivity has doubled, the farmer who now processes and stores produce locally, the woman entrepreneur whose business remains open after sunset, and the young technician who has discovered a new source of livelihood,” Aliyu said.
He explained that the programme was deliberately designed to tackle both energy poverty and agricultural poverty by integrating productive-use equipment into mini-grid projects.
“For decades, energy poverty and agricultural poverty have existed side by side. The Africa Mini-Grid Programme has challenged this reality by demonstrating that when reliable electricity reaches rural communities, farms become businesses, harvests become industries and communities become local economies,” he added.
Aliyu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding similar projects nationwide and called on development partners, investors and the private sector to deepen collaboration in scaling renewable energy investments across underserved communities.
Also speaking, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, described Nigeria as one of the first participating countries to successfully complete the programme cycle.
“Nigeria is one of the first countries to complete the project cycle because the capacity already exists on the ground. This programme was designed with scaling in mind.
“It is not just these 23 mini-grids. We are going to build on existing initiatives, including hydro projects, while additional financing from the World Bank and other development partners will support expansion.
“Because this programme has demonstrated that Nigeria has the capacity, the will and the community buy-in, we are confident that more resources will flow,” she said.
The Africa Mini-Grid Programme is jointly implemented by the REA and UNDP with funding from the GEF. It is designed to demonstrate how decentralised renewable energy can expand electricity access, improve agricultural productivity, stimulate rural enterprises and strengthen climate-resilient economic development.
The initiative is expected to serve as a model for scaling renewable energy investments and productive-use applications across Nigeria and other African countries.
