The Nigerian government is on the path of achieving its national goals of reaching 75 percent electricity access by 2020 as it has received a $1.5 million support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to electrifying unserved and underserved areas, particularly in the northern region where access rates are lowest.
Specifically, the AfDB’s board of directors approved a $1.5 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support the government’s implementation of Phase 1 of the Jigawa 1-GW Independent Power Producer (IPP) Solar Procurement Programme.
The approved SEFA grant will support the completion of outstanding technical and feasibility studies and the design of a master plan for the entire program site.
Subject to the outcome of the technical and feasibility studies, the AfDB will provide additional support to the government in the form of funding of a transaction advisor to design and launch the competitive IPP procurement.
The government has committed to de-risking the program through the provision of land and common facilities including transmission facilities.
Commenting on the project, Amadou Hott, AfDB’s vice president for power, energy, climate and green growth, stressed that the approval solidifies the bank’s commitment to Nigeria in resolving the chronic power shortage and ensuring increased access to sustainable and cost-efficient power.
“It is important for us to deliver a seamless implementation and provide necessary support to the government to conduct an effective IPP procurement process,” he added.
An intergovernmental team led by Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria will be the implementing agency for the grant.
