By Victoria Ojeme

In line with the mandate of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Agency’s drive towards improving livelihood through the delivery of off-grid electrification projects, a new partnership is underway between the REA, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The 5-year project, which is being collaboratively financed by both the GEF and the UNDP to the tune of $2.9 million is designed to ultimately “derisk sustainable off-grid lighting solutions in Nigeria”, while ultimately improving energy access for the unserved and the underserved, including men, women and children in off-grid communities across Nigeria.

According to the REA, the programme is in line the efforts of the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Power targeted at improving the investment climate for private sector participation in the nation’s energy sector, while stimulating access to financial facilities.

The Agency also drew attention to the Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (2016) as well as the energy access targets in the SE4All Investment Prospectus, two crucial policy documents of the Federal Government which this programme is in consonance with.

At the official inception workshop of the programme, attended by key stakeholders in the energy sector, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, the MD/CEO of REA expressed delight while commending the support from GEF and the UNDP towards the success of the programme.

He added that “this new programme is testament to the invaluable support the Agency has continued to receive from the Federal Government as well as key stakeholders in the sector who understand the ultimate goal of REA’s mandate; delivering clean, safe and sustainable energy to the unserved and the underserved, one community at a time”.

The Executive Director of the Agency’s Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, while encouraging the project team and the working groups to deliver on the objectives of the programme, also elaborated on the expected social and economic impacts in coming months.

The representative of UNDP, Mohamed Yahya, expressed his optimism that the project would succeed considering the commitment of the partners and the zeal to achieve the desired result.

Mr. Yahya further explained that “over the medium to long term, access to affordable, clean energy will be crucial to support economic recovery”, adding that “the ability of communities to cope with and rapidly recover from crisis hinges in many ways on their ability to regain access to energy”.

The Project manager, Dr. Bala Tyoden, explained the need to optimize this strategic programme to nurture a private sector-led technology value-chain to make off-grid renewable energy technologies such as solar lanterns and solar home systems available to rural households that might not be electrified until after 2025.

He added that, “The main aim of the project is to promote private sector investment in sustainable off-grid lighting technologies by establishing a sound policy environment that facilitates the creation of a self-functioning and sustainable market in Nigeria.”

To ensure the successful implementation of the “Derisking Sustainable Off-grid Lighting solutions” (DSOLS) Programme, the REA is working in lockstep with other key government agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). These key Agencies will, individually and collectively, provide invaluable support targeted at meeting the objectives of the Programme.