The federal government says it has turned its priority to renewable energy to improve supplies to education, health, agriculture, rural areas, and transportation.
It further said that establishing mini-grids to address energy access issues in rural areas through the e-HEART initiative will assist 80 million Nigerians who are believed to be without power, hence generating sustainable economies and minimizing rural-urban drift in Nigeria.
As part of this approach, the government has requested an additional $700 million from the African Development Bank to support the “Desert to Power” project, which aims to harness the plentiful sunshine in the country’s northern area to create renewable energy for communities.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement session organized by the Rural Electrification Agency on Wednesday, in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu said off-grid electricity supply has become a key component of the government’s plan to bridge the electricity supply gap.
Adelabu, represented by Dr. Sunday Owolabi, Director of Renewable and Rural Power Access, expressed optimism that the various renewable energy projects will assist at least 13 million Nigerians.
He noted that the new $750 million World Bank loan will help solve some of the present challenges in establishing a continuous electrical supply from the national grid.
He went on: “The distinction between on-grid and off-grid solutions should no longer be viewed as a division, but rather as complementary components of a comprehensive energy strategy.”
“As we speak, the nation is still dealing with unique on-grid electricity difficulties. We can speak honestly about these difficulties because, since we took office, the Ministry has been working hard every day to address these challenges and turn them into opportunities for progress.
“During the last Federal Executive Council, His Excellency authorized €161 million in contracts for the upgrade of electrical substations under the Presidential electrical Initiative. I am pleased to inform you that we are on track to add 150MW to the grid while influencing 14 current substations and building 21 new ones.
