The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has partnered with Australian company Okra Solar and a number of top Nigerian Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) to energise 100,000 underserved homes with mesh-grid technology.
According to REA, the collaboration is a significant milestone in the REA’s broader mission to electrify over three million households through the Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program within the next five years.
Managing Director/CEO of the REA, Abba Aliyu Abubakar, said, “This partnership is part of the REA’s sustained efforts and commitments targeted at scaling up renewable energy access in Nigeria while powering homes, businesses, schools, and productive-use activities. Through this collaboration, we are unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods across the country.”
CEO of Okra Solar, Afnan Hannan, said, “Rural mesh-grids in Nigeria are already outperforming grid power reliability in major urban centres like Lagos and Abuja. This collaboration is about more than just connections—it’s about setting a new benchmark for energy access.
“With some of the most innovative RESCOs in the world, we’re pioneering scalable solutions that empower last-mile communities. This is a defining moment for energy access in Nigeria, and we are committed to achieving 100,000 connections and beyond.”
Managing Director of First Electric Power and Automation Services Daniel Komolafe said, “Today, we reinforced our commitment to expanding energy access using mesh grids across the hardest-to-reach communities in Nigeria. We’re aiming to connect 75,000 people under this agreement, marking a significant step forward in our mission to be a reliable energy access provider anywhere in Nigeria.”
The CEO of Creeds Renewable Energy, Hannah Kabir, added that “the progress being made in including mesh grids in the technology mix for DARES ensures an inclusive distribution of energy access resources for communities. Creeds Energy will continue to build on its longstanding experience with deploying Okra mesh grids to scale up energy access across off-grid areas in Nigeria.”
