Nigeria DARES: REA signs grant agreements with eight renewable energy companies to expand access

■ Targets initial 17.5m Nigerians, contributes to Mission 300

In a decisive move to accelerate energy access, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on Monday, April 28, 2025, held the first grant signing ceremony under the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project since its official launch in 2024.

This marked a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector, and represented a crucial step in Nigeria’s commitment to electrifying unserved and underserved communities, thereby driving economic growth, and improving the quality of life for millions.

THE CONCLAVE reports that the DARES Project is structured to catalyze the off-grid energy market through targeted grant support for mini-grid and standalone solar projects.

The DARES is a key initiative under the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), designed to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy solutions in Nigeria.

These solutions are vital for providing reliable and affordable electricity to communities that are off-grid, thereby unlocking their potential for social and economic advancement.

The Nigeria DARES project aims to impact the lives of 17.5 million Nigerians.

Under the Performance-Based Grant (PBG) sub-component for isolated mini-grids, Privida Power Limited secured grant to deploy 2.47 megawatts (MW) of salary mini-grids across eleven (11) communities in Kogi State, providing over 11,027 new connections.

In addition, eight companies under the Standalone Solar Systems (SAS) component, including Baobab Plus, Salpha Energy, Asolar, NTA-StarTimes, A4&T, Sunking Greenlight Planet, Bboxx and D.Light — signed agreements to roll out tiers 1 & 2 plug and play solutions to households and MSMEs to increase energy access to rural Nigeria.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Abba Aliyu Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency highlighted the significance of the partnership

Aliyu said: “Today’s signing is not just a contract. It is a commitment to communities long underserved by conventional infrastructure. Through DARES, we are enabling private sector leadership in bringing life-changing energy solutions to the heart of Nigeria.

“This is what distributed renewable energy should represent: local empowerment, economic opportunity, and human dignity.”

Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (HNEP), in his opening remarks on the occasion, emphasized the broader impact of the initiative.

According to him, “Every connection made under DARES is more than a number. it is a doorway to education, healthcare, commerce, and inclusion.

“The 11,027 new connections we are announcing today represent lives transformed, futures energized, and a Nigeria that leaves no one behind.

“Partnerships like these are the blueprint for achieving our national energy access goals.”

THE CONCLAVE reports that in Kogi State, Privida Power projects will serve communities including Abocho Ojogba, Emewe Efopa, Icheu, Ochi Ofago, Offa, Ogene Ago, Ojamapunu, Oji Ofa, Ojo Agefu, Okura Ofate, and Onyakoji, with plant capacities tailored to local needs from 61kW up to 704kW per community.

The management of Privida Power Limited said expressed gratitude to REA for the opportunity to be part of the programme, assuming the Agency of its commitment to create the sites in May.

“We have our equity contributions and we will continue to raise capital for all the works we are invited to do,” the CEO of Privida Power Limited, Mr William Akalume said.

The Standalone Solar grantees that have now joined the initiative are expected to amplify this impact further by rapidly expanding affordable solar solutions across the most remote parts of Nigeria-one home, one business, and one dream at a time.

This initiative also contributes to the broader Mission 300, a global effort to deliver energy access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

As Nigeria advances towards achieving its universal electricity access goals, the REA, through DARES, remains at the forefront of innovation, partnerships, and inclusive growth.

● What to know about the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

The REA is the implementing agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria tasked with accelerating access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to rural and underserved communities.

Through strategic programmes like the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) and Nigeria DARES, REA works in partnership with private sector developers, development partners, and local stakeholders to deliver innovative energy solutions that drive inclusive national growth.

The Nigeria DARES Project is a $750 million initiative funded by the World Bank and is designed to accelerate access to reliable, decentralized energy solutions for unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The project aims to empower state governments, enable private sector participation, and scale solar technologies to reach over 17.5 million Nigerians supporting the World Bank’s Mission300 agenda and Nigeria’s broader energy transition goals.