The rural Electrification Agency (REA) has stated that its interventions in rural areas have led to the creation of over 500,000 new jobs through its solar mini-grids.
In a statement, the agency said it has been able to deploy over 1,650km of solar street lights, improving power, security and economic growth in rural areas.
It added that in response to subsidy removal, it is implementing interventions to develop electric mobility, mini-grids, distribute home systems, and deploy streetlights, potentially supporting up to 250,000 households in the coming year. "Through various programmes, including the Energizing Education Programme, Energizing Agriculture Programme, Beyond COVID-19, and Economic Clusters, REA delivered over 65MW of power across Nigeria's six geo-political zones.
The statement, which acknowledged the ongoing anti-graft investigation in the agency, noted that it is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Power, National Assembly, and anti-corruption agencies, to initiate further reforms within REA.