80m Nigerians lack access to electricity – REA

Managing director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo has disclosed that 80 million Nigerians lack access to electricity.

Salihijo also that said $2.245 million was required to provide electricity to 3,742,857 households via isolated and interconnected mini-grids.

The REA boss stated this on Wednesday during the REA-NASS workshop held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He informed the lawmakers and stakeholders that $235.714 million was required to power 785, 714 households in the country.

Salihijo pointed out that approximately 41 million people would be electrified via grid extension between 2020 and 2030. He further explained that most of their programmes were design for private sector participation.

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The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, noted that the Federal Government and the 9th National Assembly were willing to deliver on power to Nigerians.

Represented by the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzo Kalu, Lawan said while they optimise the on-grid option as the primary option for electricity access in Nigeria, the government was aware of the need for decentralised deployment of electricity infrastructure to serve Nigerians across the country using off-grid solutions.

Lawan maintained that for power to improve there must be a synergy between the legislature and REA.

Senate committee chairman on power, Gabriel Suswan said it was a sad commentary on the country’s infrastructure that 80 million Nigerians were without electricity. He observed that most Nigerians in the rural areas were dependent on renewable energy, adding that constant power supply in such areas would create job opportunities for the rural dwellers.

The agency was established under Section 88-92 of the Electricity Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 to provide access to electricity to the un-served and underserved communities across Nigeria.