Federal Govt Agencies Sign Pact On Energy Survey To Fast-track Rural Electrification

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct Nigeria’s first comprehensive National Energy Survey, using the World Bank-backed Multi-Tier Tracking Framework (MTF).

The strategic agreement, signed in Abuja, by the REA managing director, Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu and the statistician-general of the federation/chief executive officer of the NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, promised granular data on electricity access, affordability, and off-grid solutions to supercharge rural electrification efforts under initiatives like the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (NESIP).

The MoU formalises a strategic partnership between the two federal government agencies to provide mutual collaboration and technical support for the survey, which is being implemented under the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank.

The initiative is designed to generate high-quality, analytical data to support evidence-based planning and policy formulation in Nigeria’s power and energy sector.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Abba Aliyu noted that the partnership underscores REA’s commitment to data-driven rural electrification planning.

“This collaboration will provide granular, credible data on electricity access, affordability, and off-grid energy solutions across Nigeria. The findings will directly inform national electrification initiatives such as the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (NESIP), while also strengthening investor confidence in the sector,” he said.

Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation, emphasized the importance of sound statistical standards in national surveys.

“NBS is pleased to provide technical oversight, sampling expertise, and quality assurance to ensure that the survey adheres to global best practices. Reliable data is fundamental to effective policy and sustainable development,” he stated.

Under the MoU, the parties will work together to:

Assess energy access at household, community, enterprise, and public institution levels using the Multi-Tier Framework;

Examine household energy affordability, expenditure patterns, and willingness to pay for grid and off-grid solutions;

Analyse access to and usage of off-grid technologies, including solar home systems, mini-grids, and clean cooking solutions.

REA will serve as a key implementation and policy partner, providing sectoral expertise, stakeholder engagement, public awareness, and alignment with Nigeria’s rural electrification priorities. NBS will provide regulatory approval, sampling frames, methodological validation, technical supervision, and capacity building for enumerators, ensuring the quality and credibility of the data.

The World Bank, through ESMAP, will fund and technically oversee the survey and engage a qualified survey firm responsible for field data collection, analysis, and reporting.

The MoU will remain in force for 18 months from the date of signing. Data generated from the survey will support national energy planning, improve programme targeting, guide private sector investments, and strengthen Nigeria’s transition toward universal access to electricity and clean cooking solutions.

The partnership reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration, improving the availability of reliable energy data, and advancing sustainable electrification across rural and underserved communities in Nigeria.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyse economic growth and improve quality of life for Nigerians. The Agency was established under section 127 of the Electricity Act 2023.

The REA is currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES), National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI), Solar Power Naija (SPN), Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energising Economies Initiative (EEI), Energising Agriculture Programme (EAP), Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification,Research and Innovation Hub. Africa Mini Grids Programme (AMP), Derisking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions (DSOLS), the Korean Energy Project, Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development And Transportation (e-HEART) and the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP).

The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects, which includes conducting feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private sector developers, and project stakeholder engagements.