…unveil over 3,800 mini-grid opportunities
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Benue State Government have launched a strategic partnership designed to bridge the energy gap for over 1.2 million residents through renewable energy solutions.
The collaboration was formalized on Wednesday during the 24th State-by-State Roundtable, which focused on translating the Electricity Act 2023 into subnational economic growth.
Presenting a comprehensive energy roadmap to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the REA MD/CEO, Dr. Abba Aliyu, revealed that data analysis identified 3,821 potential mini-grid sites across the state.
Of these, 651 communities were highlighted as immediately viable for private-sector investment.
The initiative targets key economic hubs including Makurdi, Otukpo, and Gboko, aiming to power the state’s agricultural value chain, healthcare, and security sectors.
Governor Alia expressed strong commitment to the framework, pledging to foster a transparent electricity market to attract investors.
The partnership will leverage funding avenues such as the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program and the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) to deploy solar infrastructure and grid extensions across the state.