FG tasks REA to optimise operations in bridging Nigeria’s energy gap

By Innocent Obasi

The federal government has urged the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to continually align its operations with plans to leverage renewable energy as a quick solution to bridge the electricity gap in the country.

The government stated this in a statement signed by Goddy Jedy-Agba, the minister of state, Power, in Abuja at the 2023 REA’s Management and Board Retreat  themed “Institutional Strengthening for Sustainable Development.”

Speaking at the event, Jedy-Agba urged the agency not to lose sight of Vision 30:30:30, aimed at raising the generation capacity to 30,000MW by 2030, of which 30 per cent will be from renewable sources.

The minister said that renewable energy was the quick solution to bridge the electricity gap in the country, adding that was why the federal government planned to continue to optimise it.

“While drawing in quality investments and private sector participation in the space, this administration’s efforts to improve energy access through on – and off-grid electrification solutions are commendable.

“Already, we can see how pivotal this agency is to this vision and the critical roles it must continue to play in the global conversation on energy transition and off-grid electrification, ‘’he said.

Jedy-Agba said the agency was tasked with such a critical mandate, there is a need to strengthen the pillars of service delivery continuously.

He  said that the agency has consistently proven to be a forward-leaning agency, open to learning and continuous improvement.

“I am confident in the current REA management and Board. We all witness the positive effects of their leadership and dedication to the agency’s unprecedented growth and impact.”

“Beyond the quality exchange of knowledge and optimisation of expertise, a healthy and productive collaboration is desirable for an agency such as the REA, ‘’ the minister said

According to him,  the agency would be reinvigorated and repositioned after the retreat for a greater impact beyond its existing scorecard.

Salihijo Ahmad, the managing director of REA, who spoke earlier at the event, said that “under the guidance of the ministry of power, the agency continues to deliver on its mandate through an array of impactful projects.”

Ahmad noted that the agency had done a lot of projects through quality strategic collaboration, robust research and development, leveraging data-driven decision making and investment in people and processes.

“Following the institutional assessment that we have had a few years ago, we have been able to implement a series of reforms to improve the agency’s service delivery.

“We are open to ideas and guidance, so that we will be able to ensure that what we have put down is realistic and implementable.

“Over the last three years, we have been able to energise healthcare systems, educational institutions, markets, medium size enterprises, agricultural clusters and a lot more within communities, ‘’ he said.