Precious Anga
Lagos — The Rural Electrification Agency, REA, has completed a nationwide energy mapping exercise covering more than 750,000 communities, a milestone the agency says will transform electricity planning, unlock targeted investments and accelerate access to reliable power across Nigeria.
Managing Director of the REA, Dr Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during an interview with select journalists, explaining that the comprehensive mapping exercise provides, for the first time, a data-driven framework for determining where electricity infrastructure is needed, the most suitable technology for each location and the most cost-effective deployment strategy.
According to Aliyu, reliable electricity has become indispensable to Nigeria’s economic future, particularly as artificial intelligence, AI, increasingly shapes global industries, healthcare, education, manufacturing and agriculture.
“Power stimulates economic development and growth, enhances agriculture, improves the quality of health services and improves education, especially now that we are in the era of artificial intelligence. The future is the electrification of everything, which means that whatever you do will depend on electricity, with AI at its centre,” he said.
Aliyu noted that AI applications rely entirely on electricity, describing power supply as the foundation upon which emerging technologies will continue to evolve.
“Many of us have used ChatGPT, but what many people do not realise is that behind every response generated by AI is a packet of electricity that powers the process. The future is one in which electricity will determine almost everything we do, and Nigeria is not being left behind.”
He said the current administration had adopted a strategy of supporting electricity production rather than subsidising consumption by providing capital grants that encourage private sector investment in energy infrastructure while lowering deployment costs and electricity tariffs.
Aliyu said the agency’s electrification strategy prioritises agriculture, healthcare and education, with particular emphasis on powering agricultural production and processing clusters to reduce post-harvest losses.
He cited Namu community in Quan’pan Local Government Area of Plateau State as an example, explaining that rice processors previously depended entirely on diesel-powered equipment, making locally processed rice uncompetitive due to high production costs.
According to him, the deployment of a 50-kilowatt mini-grid under the Africa Mini-Grid Programme enabled one of the area’s largest rice processing facilities to transition to renewable energy.
“Today, more than 200 bags of rice processed under the mini-grid are competitive in the market. We are now scaling up from 50 kilowatts to nearly five megawatts. The five-megawatt system will power the remaining 37 factories and the surrounding communities.”
Aliyu described the nationwide energy mapping project as one of the agency’s biggest achievements, saying it has eliminated years of guesswork that previously characterised rural electrification planning.
“For the first time, we have completed the mapping of the entire country, giving us reliable data on where we should intervene, how we should intervene and which technology is most suitable for each location.”
He explained that the exercise identified more than 750,000 communities nationwide, ranging from densely populated urban settlements to remote villages with only a handful of households.
The database, he said, contains information on household numbers, existing electricity access levels and the least-cost technology required for each community, whether through standalone solar systems, isolated mini-grids, interconnected mini-grids or national grid extension.
Aliyu also highlighted recent reforms to Nigeria’s mini-grid regulations, saying they have significantly increased the scale of projects the REA can now implement.
Under the previous framework, isolated mini-grids were limited to one megawatt. Following engagements with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the revised regulation now permits isolated mini-grids of up to five megawatts and interconnected mini-grids of up to 10 megawatts.
He said the changes would allow Nigeria to undertake larger renewable energy projects comparable to those already being implemented in several African countries.
The REA boss said the agency had strengthened collaboration with state governments through its State-by-State Roundtable initiative, bringing governors, private sector investors and the agency together to align electrification priorities.
According to him, engagements have already been held with 27 states, while discussions with Anambra, Taraba, the remaining states and the Federal Capital Territory are ongoing.
Aliyu added that every mini-grid deployed by the agency comes with 100 per cent metering and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, SCADA, systems, enabling real-time monitoring of electricity generation and consumption.
He noted that electrification has also promoted financial inclusion in rural communities, citing an Abuja community where the introduction of reliable electricity led to the emergence of Point of Sale operators, business centres and other small enterprises.
“We currently record a collection rate of up to 97 per cent. Our projects are catalysing the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.”
He said the agency had moved away from the traditional contract-award model by adopting a Result-Based Financing approach that requires Renewable Energy Service Companies to secure private financing before deploying infrastructure using REA’s data.
On local manufacturing, Aliyu said Nigeria was positioning itself as a major renewable energy production hub despite the dominance of Chinese manufacturers in the global photovoltaic market.
He disclosed that the REA had signed a joint development agreement to establish 3.7 gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity across the country, with facilities planned for Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.
According to him, two manufacturing facilities in Lagos have already commenced operations, while companies such as Levin Energies in Ikotun, Lagos, are producing photovoltaic panels not only for the Nigerian market but also for export to neighbouring Ghana.
Aliyu added that Abuja alone currently hosts more than 400 megawatts of manufacturing capacity, expressing confidence that Nigeria is well positioned to emerge as a leading renewable energy manufacturing hub in Africa in the coming years.
