"LIGHTS ON FOR NIGERIA: REA & ECOWAS JOIN FORCES TO POWER 15 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS “

LIGHTS ON FOR NIGERIA: REA & ECOWAS JOIN FORCES TO POWER 15 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS “

THE Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed an MoU with ECOWAS to electrify 15 public health and education facilities using solar PV systems, marking a major step towards improving electricity access.

In alignment with the ECOWAS agreement, REA also signed an MoU with the Niger State Government to enable access to ECOWAS funding and provide counterpart support for project sites within the state. The Niger State Government will collaborate with REA on coordination, co-financing, and monitoring of installations in selected facilities.

Expressing his support for the subnational partnership, the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, stated: “Our partnership with the REA is a testament to our administration’s ‘New Niger’ agenda, which prioritizes sustainable infrastructure.

By implementing these solar projects, Niger State is ensuring that our rural health and educational facilities have the reliable power they need to serve our people effectively. We remain committed to providing the necessary counterpart support to make this initiative a lasting success.”

This dual-level partnership structure with ECOWAS and subnational cooperation with Niger State strengthens institutional coordination and ensures efficient delivery of the pilot project.
The project is expected to improve energy reliability in rural public facilities, reduce dependence on diesel generators, lower operating costs, and promote clean energy adoption in line with Nigeria’s national energy policies.

Through this collaboration, REA continues to advance its mandate of electrifying unserved and underserved communities while leveraging regional partnerships to unlock sustainable financing and scale impact.