Lagos — Nigeria has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of Mission 300, the continent’s flagship electrification initiative, as more than 50 million Africans gain access to electricity in what is being described as a major turning point in Africa’s energy transition.
The programme, jointly led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB), is accelerating efforts to connect 300 million Africans to reliable electricity by 2030 through a combination of public investment, policy reforms and private sector participation.
Nigeria has connected more than 4.5 million people through private sector-backed projects under the initiative, reinforcing its position as a key driver of Africa’s energy expansion.
Tanzania recorded the strongest performance, connecting 7.5 million people to electricity, a fivefold increase from its pre-2024 annual electrification rate. Ethiopia followed closely, with 4.6 million new connections driven by reforms that lowered grid connection costs and improved affordability for households and businesses.
The World Bank and AfDB said Mission 300 is now delivering electricity access at nearly twice the pace recorded when it was launched in 2024, reflecting a coordinated approach that combines investments in power generation, transmission, distribution and off-grid solutions.
To sustain momentum, the two institutions have committed nearly $15 billion to projects under the initiative and mobilised an additional $4.5 billion in co-financing. Development partners have also pledged more than $7 billion to strengthen Africa’s energy infrastructure.
A major pillar of the programme is its ability to attract private investment by reducing project risks through policy reforms, grants, guarantees and concessional financing, making energy projects commercially viable in underserved markets.
Implementation is being driven through National Energy Compacts, country-led frameworks designed to expand affordable electricity access, strengthen energy systems, promote renewable energy adoption and deepen regional integration.
Thirty African countries have already launched their Energy Compacts, while Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda are expected to unveil theirs at this week’s Africa Energy Forum.
World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga, said the programme is creating opportunities that extend far beyond electricity access.
“Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people and build a platform that can be scaled for years to come. Electricity is about more than power — it creates opportunities for jobs, businesses, healthcare and education.”
President of the African Development Bank Group, Sidi Ould Tah, described the 50-million milestone as a foundation for greater progress and urged governments, development partners and private investors to intensify efforts towards achieving the 2030 target.
Launched in 2024, Mission 300 is supported by several global organisations, including the The Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Sustainable Energy for All.
For a continent where more than 600 million people still live without electricity, the initiative is increasingly being viewed as one of Africa’s most consequential development programmes, with the potential to transform economies, create jobs and improve living standards at an unprecedented scale.
