The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, on Thursday assured Nigerians that electricity supply would improve before the end of 2026, saying the Federal Government is simultaneously rehabilitating the national grid and expanding off-grid renewable energy projects to bridge the country’s energy access gap.

Tegbe gave the assurance in Abuja at the media launch of the Africa Mini-Grid Programme (AMP) Nigeria Pilot Project, a renewable energy initiative jointly implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The programme, according to the REA and UNDP, has delivered 23 mini-grids across underserved communities in 15 states, providing electricity to about 20,000 households and more than 50,000 people while supporting productive economic activities, particularly in agriculture.

Addressing stakeholders, the minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to improving electricity supply despite decades of underinvestment in the power sector.

“For the avoidance of doubt, before the end of this year, Nigerians will see a significant improvement in electricity delivery,” Tegbe said.

He, however, cautioned that the country’s electricity challenges could not be resolved overnight.

“What was badly managed for 50 years cannot be resolved in six months. We are fixing the infrastructure, fixing the main grid, building off-grid assets where necessary and strengthening the resilience of the entire electricity network. The key thing is to give Nigerians electricity,” he said.

Tegbe described renewable energy as a critical component of Nigeria’s electricity mix rather than an alternative to conventional power generation.

“Renewable energy, especially solar technology, is not an alternative source of power. It is not a generator solution. It is an integral part of our national power architecture,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government is deploying technologies based on the energy needs of different communities, using mini-grids to provide electricity to locations beyond the reach of the national grid.

The minister commended the collaboration between the REA, UNDP and GEF, describing the Africa Mini-Grid Programme as evidence of how partnerships can accelerate universal energy access.

He said the programme had gone beyond building infrastructure to transforming livelihoods through reliable electricity for businesses, healthcare, education and agriculture.

Tegbe noted that the 23 mini-grids had strengthened local economies by powering households, businesses and productive enterprises, adding that host communities had taken ownership of the facilities.

He also welcomed plans to expand the initiative, saying a second phase would target an additional 50 mini-grids and provide electricity to another 50,000 households.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, described the programme as a model for delivering sustainable energy access that combines electrification with economic development.

He said the programme had demonstrated that reliable electricity could transform rural communities by boosting agricultural productivity, supporting local enterprises and creating jobs.

According to him, the impact of the initiative extends beyond the number of mini-grids installed.

“The true impact of the AMP is found in the rice processor whose productivity has doubled, the farmer who now processes and stores produce locally, the woman entrepreneur whose business remains open after sunset, and the young technician who has discovered a new source of livelihood,” he said.

Aliyu explained that the programme was deliberately designed to tackle energy poverty alongside agricultural poverty by integrating productive-use equipment into mini-grid projects.

He said access to reliable electricity had enabled farming communities to process produce, strengthen storage capacity, increase value addition and improve incomes.

“For decades, energy poverty and agricultural poverty have existed side by side. The Africa Mini-Grid Programme has challenged this reality by demonstrating that when reliable electricity reaches rural communities, farms become businesses, harvests become industries and communities become local economies,” he added.

The REA boss said the agency remains committed to expanding similar interventions across Nigeria as part of efforts to achieve universal electricity access.

He called on development partners, investors and the private sector to deepen collaboration in scaling renewable energy investments across underserved communities.

In her remarks, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the UNDP, Ahunna Eziakonwa, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the programme in Nigeria, describing the country as one of the first to successfully complete the project cycle.

“Nigeria, as you heard, is one of the first countries to complete the project cycle. And that is because you already have capacity on the ground and also the spread. This programme was designed with scaling in mind.

“It is not just these 23 mini-grids. We are going to build on existing initiatives, including hydro projects, while additional financing from the World Bank and other development partners will support expansion.

“Because this programme has demonstrated that Nigeria has the capacity, the will and the community buy-in for this to happen, we are quite confident that more resources will flow,” Eziakonwa said.

The Africa Mini-Grid Programme Nigeria Pilot Project is jointly implemented by the REA and UNDP with funding support from the GEF. It is des’gned to demonstrate the role of decentralised renewable energy in expanding electricity access, improving agricultural productivity, stimulating rural enterprises and strengthening climate-resilient economic development.

The programme showcases 23 pilot mini-grid projects across Nigeria and is expected to serve as a model for scaling renewable energy investments and productive-use applications across the country and across Africa. (Vanguard)

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