Lighting up Nigeria: FG Launches Bold Plan to Power 25 Million People in Three Years

In a renewed push to bridge Nigeria’s energy gap, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, has announced an ambitious plan to provide electricity to 25 million Nigerians within the next three years. The initiative, backed by substantial international funding, aims to deliver sustainable and cost-effective power solutions to unserved and underserved communities across the country.  

Speaking in an interview with "Arise News" on Monday, Aliyu emphasized the need for a commercially viable framework for rural electrification, dismissing the notion of free electricity as unsustainable.  

“Any framework designed to provide electricity for free is bound to fail. Sustainability is key, and for that, we must have a cost-reflective tariff structure,”* he asserted.  

To achieve this ambitious target, Aliyu revealed that the Nigerian government has secured a $750 million World Bank facility aimed at electrifying 17.5 million Nigerians. He also highlighted ongoing discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for additional funding to bring power to another five million people.  
Additionally, the REA’s existing Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has the capacity to provide electricity to 2.5 million Nigerians, forming a crucial part of the strategy.  

Breaking down the implementation plan, Aliyu outlined multiple electrification models to be deployed:  
Isolated mini-grids will provide electricity to 30 million Nigerians, Interconnected mini-grids will serve1.5 million people, Mesh grids and standalone home systems will cover 12 million individuals 

“In total, within three years, we intend to lift 25 million Nigerians out of electricity poverty. This is a bold and necessary move by this government,” he said .  

Beyond simply providing power, Aliyu stressed the need to use electrification as a tool for socioeconomic transformation.  

“We are focusing on three critical sectors—education, health, and agriculture. By ensuring reliable power in these areas, we can significantly enhance livelihoods and economic productivity,” he explained.  

Aliyu confirmed that the REA has comprehensive data on Nigeria’s energy needs, which has been shared with state governments for strategic implementation.  

Nigeria has over 150,000 potential mini-grid sites that can serve about 40 million Nigerians. Our data also identifies the most critical areas in need of electrification, ensuring that we target resources effectively,” he noted.  

Despite the detailed planning, Aliyu acknowledged potential behavioral and implementation challenges.  

Execution is key, and we recognize that behavioral patterns and logistical hurdles may arise. However, we remain committed to overcoming these challenges to achieve our electrification goals,  he assured.  

With strong government backing, international financing, and a clear roadmap, the REA’s ambitious electrification plan signals a major step toward addressing Nigeria’s power deficit and unlocking economic potential for millions of citizens.