As part of efforts towards providing and improving the supply of affordable energy in all the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) sites across the country, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and SAPZ have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Vice-President Kashim Shettima hailed the collaboration, which he said would boost the provision of affordable energy in the centres scattered across the country.

He particularly commended the commitment and resourcefulness of the REA management, saying the SAPZ programme, if fully operationalised, has the potential to transform agricultural productivity across the country and improve the wellbeing of rural communities.

The agreement covers joint assessment, technical assistance and energy deployment across the SAPZ sites under REA’s Desert To Power (DTP) programme.

Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, said the Federal G
overnment welcomes the partnership and will encourage more collaborations that will help unlock the country’s potential across all sectors but particularly in the agricultural sector.

Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, said the collaboration with the AfDB and the Federal Ministry of Power through the REA was commendable and was the beginning of greater achievements in the agricultural sector given the potential for growth. B

He expressed optimism that the SAPZ would address numerous challenges confronting farmers and other stakeholders in the sector.

He noted that beyond bridging the infrastructure gap, the programme is designed to improve the livelihoods of farmers and people in rural communities.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, pledged the ministry’s dedication to the actualisation of government’s aspirations in the power sector, stating the ministry’s full commitment to the objectives of the collaboration between the REA and SAPZ.

Managing Director, REA, Abba Aliyu, said the organisation has a proven track record of delivering on game-changing projects with 424 completed mini-grid electrification projects and 693 others ongoing across the country. He said the targeted impact of the proposed partnership under the SAPZ programme is 25,000 households, 13 health facilities and directly impacting over 103,000 persons in each designated area.

National Programme Coordinator, SAPZ, Kabir Yusuf, said the proposed partnership will address energy supply, which is one of the most critical challenges confronting the successful implementation of the programme across the country.

He expressed optimism that the deployment of mini-grids through the proposed initiative led by the REA will improve the economies of the production centres, while adjourning communities will enjoy more sustainable power supply.