World Bank to intensify provision of alternative sources of power for rural electrification

The World Bank, says it will intensify efforts at providing alternative sources of electricity to underserved populations in the country.

This follows its satisfaction with the Rural Electrification Agency and Nigeria Electrification Project Unit’s deployment and management , of the off-grid and mini-grid mass electrification programmes in rural communities within the FCT.

These off-grid and mini-grid electricity projects are situated in rural communities within the FCT.

They are a fallout of the Performance-Based Grant Programme under the Solar Hybrid mini-grid component of the Nigeria Electrification Project , funded by the World Bank.

The World bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations, in West and Central Africa is now here to see the impact and effectiveness of the project.

This power generation initiative is aimed at giving electricity to marginalized sub-populations, who have long been denied access to power from the national grid.

It is against the backdrop of the World Bank and Rural Electrification Agency’s , commitment to providing local communities , particularly those underserved and unserved with sustainable electricity access .

The world bank assures of its commitment to continuous collaboration with electricity stakeholders in the country, towards better access to power particularly in underserved rural areas.

The Rural Electrification Agency also gives the assurance of its dedication to maintaining standardized implementation processes for the effectiveness of the mini grid initiative.

The benefitting communities say the mini grids have impacted their quality of life and socio-economic activities.

It has specifically provided them with clean, safe and reliable electricity, which powers boreholes and also equipment such as rice mills and electric grinders, while illuminating the environment at night .

The Nigeria Electrification project’s performance based grant has aided the deployment of more than 80 of such mini-grids across the country, thereby improving equitable access to electricity.