The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has signed a grant agreement with two mini-grid developers to electrify Jigawa and Nasarawa States.
The developers are ACOB Lighting Technical Limited and Offgrid Electric Limited.
At the signing in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Abba Aliyu, Head, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) Management Unit, said that the developers met the stringent prerequisites for participation.
According to him, this participation is under the Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST) sub-component, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) which is implemented by REA.
He said that the agreement signals a transformative leap forward in bolstering off-grid power generation in Jigawa and Nasarawa states.
He said that approximately 7,747 customers across various localities in these states would gain access to an estimated 3,454 Kilo Volt (KV) PV capacity, promising more sustainable and reliable energy sources.
”With an average daily load of 9,044 Kilo Watts hour (kWh/day) and 4,633kWh/day for Jigawa and Nasarawa states, the project is poised to deploy hybrid mini-grid solutions across 21 sites in Jigawa managed by Offgrid Electric.
”It involves five sites in Nasarawa managed by ACOB Lighting Tech.
and it will have a positive impact on the people of the states.
”We anticipate them delivering the quality and quantity enshrined in the contract within the agreed period.
”Through such collaborations, NEP remains steadfast in its mission of fostering sustainable and inclusive electrification, paving the way for progress and a brighter future for communities in Jigawa and Nasarawa, ” he said.
Abba urged the developers to leverage the opportunities presented by MST projects to create a linkage by promoting Productive Use of Equipment (PUE) within communities.
He said that the project would create a nexus between the MST and PUE, both funded by the AfDB.
”This will enhance the sustainability of mini-grids and further facilitate rapid socio-economic development in communities, aligning with the project’s objectives, ” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Alexander Obiechina, the Chief Executive Officer of ACOB Lighting Tech. Ltd., said that his company was committed to fulfilling all contractual obligations.
He said: “this is a significant achievement for us. The location and proximity of this project to Abuja give us very high visibility. We hope the cooperation we have received from you will be sustained.”
Mr Khalis Muhammed, the Managing Director, Offgrid Electric Ltd said that with the proper management of the facility, the lifespan of the project would experience quality longevity of up to 20 years or more.
“By God’s grace, we will deliver within the deadline and build something with a lasting and sustainable impact for the next 20 years and beyond,” he said.
