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In a bold move to deepen energy access and drive sustainable development, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with public and private sector partners, unlocking over ₦500 billion in renewable energy investments across Nigeria.
The agreements were formalised during a strategic forum held in Abuja on Monday, themed “Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Energy Access and Socio-Economic Development.” The event attracted key stakeholders from the energy, finance, correctional services, agriculture, and tech sectors.
REA Managing Director, Engr. Abba Aliyu, made it clear that the newly signed MoUs are not mere symbolic gestures, but part of a structured framework designed to deliver measurable outcomes in renewable energy deployment.
“These agreements are not for show. We are building systems and partnerships that translate directly into infrastructure deployment, job creation, and improved livelihoods,” Aliyu said.
He cited past MoU results, including the deployment of four smart police stations in partnership with the Police Trust Fund, a renewable energy testing centre with Huawei, and N100 billion mobilised through First City Monument Bank to support Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs). Notably, four RESCOs have also secured $20 million in concessional debt through the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
One of the most impactful partnerships announced at the event is with the Nigeria Correctional Service, which will see the installation of solar-powered mini-grids across custodial centres nationwide—starting with the service’s Abuja headquarters.
“With this initiative, we are bringing not just light but hope to over 81,000 inmates,” said Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche. “This is about more than energy—it’s about rehabilitation, vocational training, and preparing inmates for reintegration.”
The REA is also taking steps to ensure that its energy initiatives are aligned with broader infrastructure goals. The agency will collaborate with Galaxy Backbone to coordinate internet and electricity infrastructure rollouts in tertiary institutions, an approach Aliyu described as “cost-efficient and scalable.”
REA’s Executive Director of Technical Services, Umar Umar, revealed that the agency has already installed 160MW of solar power capacity, electrifying 1,650 rural communities and powering over 1,000 healthcare facilities. These projects have improved the lives of more than six million Nigerians.
“Access to energy is not just a utility—it is a foundation for education, health, agriculture, security, and economic progress,” Umar emphasized.
In the agricultural sector, REA’s new alliance with NIRSAL Plc aims to energize agribusiness hubs with clean power solutions. Managing Director of NIRSAL, Sa’ad Hamidu, said the collaboration would also extend credit guarantees to RESCOs and SMEs in the agricultural value chain.
“Water is life, but energy is equally life. With 60% of Nigerians engaged in agriculture, powering rural areas is central to national growth,” Hamidu noted.
The REA’s aggressive push into public-private partnerships is already yielding significant results. According to Aliyu, the agency has signed MoUs with 13 sub-national governments through state-level energy roundtables. These agreements have catalysed the construction of over 200 mini-grids currently being developed across the country.
“We are building long-term financing structures with commercial funding, not just relying on government budget allocations. This approach will sustain the renewable energy ecosystem for decades,” Aliyu added.
As Nigeria grapples with energy access challenges, the REA’s strategy of collaborative funding, decentralized solutions, and state-level engagements is fast becoming a model for inclusive national electrification.
With over ₦500 billion expected to be deployed in three phases, the agency says the new wave of investments will transform rural economies, bolster national productivity, and move Nigeria closer to achieving its clean energy and electrification goals under the SDGs and Energy Transition Plan.