The Traffic

FG Strikes Mega Deal with 9 Energy  Giants.

By Achimi Muktar

In a bold move to tackle Nigeria’s longstanding electricity crisis, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has sealed a groundbreaking deal with nine renewable energy companies to deliver power to over 17.5 million Nigerians—ushering in what could be the country’s most ambitious energy access project yet.

The agreement, signed on Monday in Abuja, launches the implementation phase of the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project. This initiative is a major step in Nigeria’s contribution to Mission 300, a global pledge to provide electricity to 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Among the powerhouse players in this transformative collaboration are Privida Power Limited, Salpha Energy, Sunking Greenlight Planet, Baobab Plus, Asolar, NTA-StarTimes, A4&T Power Solutions, Bboxx, and D.Light—companies handpicked to deploy mini-grids and solar systems across rural and underserved communities nationwide.

“This isn’t just an agreement; it’s a promise of light to communities that have lived in the dark for far too long,” declared Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the REA, during the signing ceremony.

Aliyu revealed that the project would deploy 1,350 mini-grids and 1.6 million solar home systems, with 198 sites already mapped out. The rollout is expected to create an estimated 340,000 new energy connections and inject 47 megawatts of clean, stable electricity into the national grid.

One of the key players, Privida Power Limited, is set to deliver solar mini-grids across 11 communities in Kogi State alone, bringing 2.5 megawatts of reliable energy and over 11,000 new connections.

“This initiative is especially targeted at Band D and E customers—households and businesses that have endured unreliable or nonexistent power for decades,” Aliyu explained. “Through projects like DARES, the era of darkness is coming to an end.”

For the Standalone Solar Systems (SAS) component, eight companies will provide plug-and-play solar solutions to households and micro-enterprises, focusing on rural Nigeria’s most isolated regions.

Olufemi Akinyelure, head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), emphasized the life-changing potential of the DARES project: “Each connection isn’t just power—it’s access to education, healthcare, business opportunities, and digital inclusion.”

He described DARES as a blueprint for bridging Nigeria’s energy divide and accelerating national development through clean, decentralized energy.

Speaking on behalf of the private partners, William Akalume, CEO of Privida Power Limited, said: “We are honored to be part of this national milestone. With REA’s leadership and our collective expertise, we’re not just powering homes—we’re powering futures.”

As Nigeria grapples with energy poverty affecting over 18 million people, this partnership could be a game-changer in achieving universal electricity access, especially under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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