Rural Electrification Agency, Benue Explore Options To Power 1.2m Residents, 3,821 Mini-grids

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has partnered with the Benue State government to unlock power for 1.2 million off-grid residents through 3,821 mini-grids, aiming to accelerate rural energy access.

Speaking at 24th State-by-State Roundtable held in Abuja, with the Benue State government, REA MD/CEO Dr Abba Aliyu, while debriefing the state governor Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, provided “an x-ray of the state’s electricity market with the identification of over 1,207,272 residents that can be potentially powered through solar mini-grids,” alongside “3,821 potential mini-grid sites in the state.”

Aliyu highlighted “651 communities have more than 100 connections for private sector mini-grid developers,” naming economically viable spots like Odejo, Mbadede, Gwer, Tarka, Otukpo, Obi, Makurdi, and Gboko as “attractive and high impact investment sites.

Themed “From Strategy to Impact: Accelerating Private Investment in Benue State Renewable Energy Ecosystem,” the roundtable, attended by over 300 stakeholders including Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs), policymakers, financiers, and community leaders, aligned the Electricity Act 2023 and National Electrification Strategy with Benue’s agricultural value chains.

Dr Aliyu emphasised scaling projects under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES), the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI), and the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), highlighting existing mini-grids, solar irrigation pumps, streetlights, and home systems.

Widely regarded as the nation’s food basket, the Roundtable presented Benue State with data-driven, practical strategies to integrate energy access with agricultural value chains. Beyond this, however, the REA outlined the possible multi-sectoral impacts of renewable energy investments in the State, including impacts on education, healthcare delivery, security, and local economies.

Reviewing the pathways for establishing a functional state electricity market framework, the executive team of the REA, as well as critical commissioners and heads of agencies in Benue State, explored opportunities under the ongoing DARES programme, NPSSI, REF and other strategic programmes of the REA.

The agency, through its data-driven approach, also identified 3,821 potential mini-grid sites in the State, while an estimated 651 communities have more than 100 connections for private sector mini-grid developers. These areas include Odejo, Mbadede and Gwer, all economically viable areas in Benue State. Other locations include Tarka, Otukpo, Obi, Markurdi, Gboko, to mention just a few. The potential mini-grid sites, the MD explained, are attractive and high-impact investment sites.

Central to the Roundtable discussions, the agency highlighted existing renewable energy projects in the State, including functional mini-grid infrastructure, grid extension projects, solar-powered irrigation pumps, solar streetlights, and solar home systems.

Dr Aliyu, however, emphasised the need to accelerate and scale up additional renewable energy projects in the State, leveraging the agency’s data and leaning on the State’s commitment to create a business-friendly electricity market for RESCOs.

While giving his remarks, Governor Alia explained that Benue State, like much of Nigeria, has battled with poor energy access over the years. He added that “the 2023 Electricity Act enacted by the FG presents a historic opportunity for energy independence and my administration is fully committed to leveraging this framework to reverse years of energy gap, expand access and attract private sector participation”.

The governor further explained that his administration, upon resumption, has taken “deliberate steps to develop pathways for the State electricity market” as “investor confidence depends on clarity, predictability and efficient project coordination”.

While commending the REA, the Governor expressed his amazement at the “volume of energy access statistics the REA has in its possession”. He assured the RESCOs of the State’s readiness to welcome investors and developers. With the success of the REA–Benue State Roundtable, the REA marks another milestone in Nigeria’s evolving electricity landscape, demonstrating how federal reforms can be effectively localised as state governments step into their new roles under the Electricity Act 2023. The agency has therefore continued to mainstream the need for a favourable investment climate, innovative renewable energy solutions, wider private-sector participation, sustainable systems, and the development of a skills pipeline to manage infrastructure growth across States.