REA Partners Jigawa, Commits To Harnessing Clean Energy Opportunities

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), as part of its ongoing state-by-state strategic roundtables with the sub-nationals, convened frontline stakeholders in the energy sector at the REA – Jigawa State Roundtable in Abuja, Nigeria.

This is happening after sustained, productive engagements between the agency and the state governor, Umar Namadi.

Since the 2023 Electricity Act was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the agency has strengthened the tenets of the Act, with a focus on the National Electrification and Strategy and Implementation Plan (NESIP) in a bid to reinvigorate the State Electricity Market, while creating an investor friendly business environment for the private sector.

Against the backdrop of the Act and in line with the Agency’s long-term history of facilitating productive inter-sectoral and inter-agency collaborations, the Agency’s ongoing State-by-State Strategic Roundtables is a dynamic platform designed by the REA to foster collaboration between state governments, Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs), and other stakeholders, as each state government takes on the challenging task of nurturing a sustainable electricity market.

The REA – Jigawa State Roundtable, themed “Unleashing Market Opportunities for Decentralised Renewable Energy in Jigawa State” was convened against the backdrop of the recent electrification pathway in the State, set in motion by Governor Umar Namadi.

This includes the creation of the Jigawa State Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, mandated to provide reliable and inclusive energy solutions for the state’s residents and the Jigawa State Electricity Regulatory Commission, mandated to enhance electricity regulation and access in the state.

While delivering the REA’s data-driven insights on the Jigawa State Electricity Market, the agency’s managing director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, assured Governor Umar Namadi of the agency’s commitment to the implementation of least-cost electrification strategies, backed up by data and efficient sustainability mechanisms.

Aliyu explained that “Jigawa State has the potential to immediately electrify one million people using solar mini-grids, to catalyse socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the state”.

Currently, the REA is implementing a total of 21 ongoing mini-grid projects across 21 LGAs in Jigawa State through the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) – Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST), to energise over 300, 000 people. The agency highlighted key communities in Jigawa State with high energy demand for agricultural production.

Governor Umar Namadi, upon signing the REA –Jigawa State Memorandum of Understanding targeted at unlocking renewable energy potentials in Jigawa State, assured Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) of the state’s readiness for Strategic PPPs. While banking on the governor’s assurance of a stable investment climate and secure ecosystem for project deployment, Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) present at the Strategic Roundtable have expressed immediate interest to take on clean energy projects in Jigawa State and optimise the state’s clean energy potentials.

The governor applauded the futuristic policies of President Tinubu, for the passage of the 2023 Electricity Act, adding that “the potential and opportunities for the development of renewable energy projects in Jigawa State are limitless, from the policy environment to the political commitment.

From the comparative advantage of the State’s physical environment to the existing conducive climate. The prospects are enormous”.

While sharing insights on the status of the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up, the Head, project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Olufemi Akinyelure emphasised that the NEP has so far aided the delivery of over 200 mini-grids nationwide, with the REA focusing on catalysing commercial activities to drive demand and capacity optimisation.

He added that the DARES programme, now being implemented through the REA, is a $750 million programme designed to energise over 25 million Nigerians. Olufemi emphasised the need for improved private sector financing to drive renewable energy scale-up and improve Return on Investment (ROI).

The executive director, Rural Electrification Fund (REA), Engr. Doris Udoh, while mainstreaming the agency’s E-HEART initiative and the State Matching programme, explained the REA is poised to further target renewable energy projects to healthcare, education, agriculture, rural development and transportation (HEART) and improve the internally generated revenues in the States.

Historically, the REA has successfully implemented a range of off-grid energy solutions in Jigawa State over the years, including solar home systems, solar mini-grids, solar street lights, electric vehicle charging stations, solar-powered irrigation pumps as well as a range of grid extension projects. These projects continue to serve the people of Jigawa State.