REA Completes Energy Mapping to Boost Power Investments

Dr. Abba Aliyu, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), announced the completion of a nationwide energy mapping exercise that identified more than 750,000 communities in Nigeria.

He emphasized the critical role of electricity in driving economic growth, enhancing agriculture, and supporting emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Aliyu stated that electricity is essential for AI applications, including healthcare and precision agriculture.

He highlighted the REA's strategy under the current administration to provide grants for production rather than consumption, aiming to catalyze private sector investment in infrastructure. A key focus has been on reducing post-harvest losses in agriculture through reliable electricity.

For instance, in Namu community, Plateau State, a pilot project under the Africa Mini-Grid program deployed a 50-kilowatt system, enabling a major rice processing plant to switch from diesel to clean energy, making over 200 bags of rice competitive in the market.