The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria recently held its first grant signing ceremony for the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project, aimed at improving energy access for underserved communities. This event marks a significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to electrifying over 17.5 million citizens and fostering economic growth.
The DARES project will support off-grid energy initiatives, including mini-grids and standalone solar systems. Notably, Privida Power Limited secured funding to deploy 2.47 megawatts of solar mini-grids across 11 communities in Kogi State, providing over 11,000 new electricity connections.
Other companies, including Baobab Plus and D.Light, also signed agreements to deliver solar solutions to households and small enterprises. REA’s Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, emphasized the project’s goal of enhancing power reliability and access. A total of 82 companies applied for the grants, with eight qualifying to deploy 1.6 million solar home systems. The initiative aligns with President Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle Nigeria’s electricity access challenges. The DARES project is part of a broader global effort to provide energy access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. This development reflects