The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, has warned that Nigeria has the world’s highest number of people without access to electricity, with about 90 million citizens still living in darkness.
Aliyu, who spoke in an interview today, described the figure as alarming but noted that the federal government, in collaboration with the private sector, is working aggressively to close the country’s energy gap.
“Nigeria has the highest number of people without access to electricity, and this is the first time that I am seeing a government dealing with it. In the world, apart from India, there is no government that has devised a structure to get people out of the electricity poverty like we are doing now,” he said.
Aliyu explained that despite the grim statistics, progress had been recorded, with more than 70 million Nigerians now connected to electricity through various REA programmes.
When asked if he agreed with the figure of 90 million Nigerians living in electricity poverty, he said: “No, I am not contesting that. I am saying we are addressing that number. Under the REA, we have provided electricity to 70 million people, and I can provide the data.
“We have one programme alone targeting 17.5 million. In three years, 17.5 million will be out. The president’s visit to Japan will also provide electricity to another 1.83 million Nigerians. We are working on the E-Heart project to reach 16 million, though financing has not yet been secured.”
The REA boss stressed that the agency’s model differs from the past, as it now prioritises incentivising private-sector investment in viable infrastructure instead of relying solely on government contracts.
“We built the structure around the private sector. The minister of power is a finance expert, so we deployed commercially viable infrastructure. The private sector has its own funds alongside ours, which means they bear responsibility to ensure the infrastructure works long-term to recover their investments,” he explained.
Aliyu highlighted successful projects, including mini-grids at Alex Ekwueme University and the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, both of which have run for over five years, and a 20,000-kilowatt solar-hydro project in Balanga, Gombe State, supporting wheat farmers.
He added that the agency is also expanding renewable energy generation through solar, biomass, and wind, with solar remaining the most cost-effective. A memorandum of understanding has already been signed with the Nigerian Wind Council to develop large-scale wind energy.
To ensure sustainability, Aliyu said the REA is designing a renewable asset management framework to revive and reintegrate failed or underperforming projects into the national energy system.
“We are making sure projects do not die out. Failed projects can be refurbished and reintroduced into the energy ecosystem,” he said.
The REA chief further assured Nigerians that the agency will publish verifiable data to back its achievements, stressing that its overall strategy is to deliver reliable and lasting electricity, particularly to rural and underserved communities.
