…commissions 20MW mini-grid project in Kogi
By Seun Ibiyemi
In commemoration of Democracy Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for its aggressive drive in deploying off-grid and mini-grid power solutions to power the nation’s underserved communities, universities, markets, and hospitals.
The President in his democracy day broadcast reiterated his administration’s stance that reliable electricity is a democratic dividend owed to every Nigerian.
The President further highlighted the strides being made to permanently address the structural problems besetting the nation’s power sector under his leadership.
“To address the problems besetting the sector, I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power.”
“The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working hard to reduce the metering deficit and has been authorised to raise a ₦4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts. Alongside these reforms, the REA, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank is successfully ensuring that underserved communities participate fully in the nation’s growth story,” President Tinubu stated.
Echoing the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, announced a massive milestone in Kogi State, spearheaded by the commissioning of the largest solar hybrid mini-grid projects in North-central.
Delivered under the REA-DARES Performance-Based Grant (PBG) Programme funded by the World Bank and implemented by PriVida, the newly commissioned projects include major installations in Emewe Efopa, Dekina LGA (442kW) and Offa, Olamaboro LGA (704kW).
Speaking, Aliyu noted that the project forms part of a broader, aggressive rollout across the state.
“So far this year, 11 mini-grid sites have been completed across Kogi State under the DARES PBG Programme, culminating in a combined 2.5MW* of clean, decentralized energy infrastructure. This expansion aligns with a broader state-wide target aimed at unlocking up to 20MW of total solar farm infrastructure to aggressively close the energy gap in the region,” he said.
The newly commissioned grids are expected to provide clean, reliable electricity to more than 5,000 households, while powering local businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.
On the impact of the projects, Aliyu emphasized that a nation only grows when opportunity reaches places that have waited too long to be connected.
“These commissioning ceremonies are a reminder that Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not just about policy, it is about delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.”
READ ALSO:Full text: President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 Democracy Day address
“Every community connected strengthens our belief that renewable energy remains one of the most effective pathways to inclusive growth, productive livelihoods, and universal energy access in Nigeria,” Aliyu said.
Aliyu further extended appreciation to the Minister of Power for accelerating renewable energy deployment, as well as the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, for his continuous support of development initiatives across Kogi State.
With the combination of policy reforms, a ₦4 trillion debt-settlement strategy and rapid rural electrification, the Federal Government is firmly on track to deliver its democratic promise of electricity to all Nigerians.
