By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has stated that in response to the fuel subsidy removal, it “is implementing interventions to develop electric mobility, mini-grids, distribute home systems, and deploy streetlights, potentially supporting up to 250,000 households in the coming year”.
This is as it also announced that from 2020 to date, it has provided power to over 7.5 million people including 1.5 million households, delivering 130 Mini-Grid Projects, including 1.3 million standalone home systems.
In a statement of scorecard signed by the director (PIO) Malam Ibrahim, the agency said it has equally deployed over 1,650km of solar streetlights, improving power, security, and economic growth in rural areas.
“REA completed 1,403 projects under the capital budget, delivering solar streetlights, mini-grid projects, standalone home systems, and grid extension works.
“Through various programs, including Energizing Education Programmes, Energizing Agriculture Programme, Beyond COVID-19, and Economic Clusters, REA delivered over 65MW of power across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
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“REA has delivered over 500MW of power, electrified numerous communities, created 500,000 new jobs, and attracted over $2 billion in investments in the renewable energy sector over the past decade,” the agency said.
It also disclosed that in the quest to advance the achievements it has gone into partnership with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Global Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sustainable Energy for ALL (SE4ALL), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF among several other internation organisations.
According to the statement, the agency in 2022, as part of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS) Programme, secured an additional 4 billion in capital injection grants to provide clean power standalone home systems to over 50,000 locations, including rural homes, micro-businesses, schools, and faith-based institutions.
“Most recently, on the back of the success of the Nigeria Electrification Project, NEP, REA negotiated and secured the advance approval of a $750 million facility with the World Bank to expand renewable and rural electrification initiatives, providing additional resources to Nigeria during a challenging period,” REA said.
The agency said in addition to electrification, the Executive Management have worked to reform the agency and improve the delivery of public goods and services, addressing issues like underinvestment, outdated processes, and limited technology adoption, which have hindered the Agency’s functions.
It dismissed as false recent publications by a section of the media alleging corrupt practices, general redeployment, suspension, or investigation of staff, etc within the agency, adding the its being silent on it over time was deliberate, not to lose focus on the developmental strides it is taking to ensure access to electricity by underserved and underserved Nigerians.
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“We want to make it clear that Engineer Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, the current Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, has been a steadfast leader who has tirelessly guided REA through challenging times, even in the face of internal, external pressures, and resistance to anti-corruption efforts.
“To keep it concise, the most significant change is the redeployment of the director of the Funds and Accounts Department – a seconded officer from the Office of the Accountant General. The allegation levelled against the then director is undergoing investigation by the anti-graft authorities including the core REA staff alleged to be involved,” REA said.