The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, has said that Nigeria’s decentralised energy drive is beginning to deliver measurable gains in access and productivity, with interconnected mini-grids increasing customer connections by over 95 per cent in some locations while boosting energy use for economic activities.
 
Aliyu, who spoke at two separate events in Nairobi and Lagos, stressed that the next phase of Nigeria’s electrification push must go beyond basic access to focus on powering livelihoods, industries and long-term growth.
 
“Across Nigeria, access to reliable electricity remains one of the strongest drivers of development, productivity, and opportunity,” he said, setting the tone for a renewed push to align energy access with economic outcomes.
 
Speaking at the Energy Access Investment Forum in Nairobi, where he delivered opening remarks at a session on Business Models and Pilot Projects, Aliyu said experience from REA’s interventions shows that decentralised renewable systems are proving more impactful when designed to support productive use.
 
“At the Rural Electrification Agency, our work has shown that renewable energy must go beyond basic connections; it must drive real economic activity. This is where interconnected mini-grids have proven particularly impactful.

“By combining solar generation, battery storage, and grid integration, these systems are delivering more reliable power, increasing customer connections by over 95 per cent, and significantly boosting energy consumption for productive use,” he said.
 
The REA boss pointed to the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) as a key vehicle for scaling such outcomes, noting that the model is not only improving reliability but also reducing dependence on diesel generation across underserved communities.
 
“Through initiatives like the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), we are seeing how these models can reduce reliance on diesel, improve service quality, and create value not just for communities, but also for utilities,” he added.
 
He, however, emphasised that technology and capital alone would not be sufficient to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s off-grid market, stressing the need for coordinated action among stakeholders.
 
“From our experience in Nigeria, one thing is clear, success in this sector requires more than technology or funding. It demands strong collaboration between developers, DisCos, communities, and policymakers, backed by adaptive regulation and long-term commitment,” Aliyu said.
 
Highlighting lessons from global engagements, he noted that platforms that encourage practical knowledge-sharing remain critical to refining deployment strategies and partnerships.
 
Aliyu maintained that while the opportunities in Nigeria’s energy access space are significant, outcomes will depend on the quality of partnerships driving implementation.