…eyes 3.7GW solar manufacturing capacity by 2027
Abba Aliyu, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has noted the ongoing structural transition in Nigeria’s off-grid electricity sector. He highlighted the shift from small-scale pilot projects to a bankable, utility-style market following key regulatory interventions by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Speaking in Abuja during a knowledge-exchange visit by the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA), Aliyu stated that this shift has paved the way for the construction of 48 interconnected mini-grid sites across 19 states, cutting across 10 electricity distribution companies (DisCos). These projects are being rolled out as one unified programme under the Interconnected Mini-Grid regulatory framework introduced by NERC.
According to Aliyu, the scheme is expected to deliver 252,505 new and improved electricity connections when completed, alongside 213.3 megawatts-peak of solar photovoltaic capacity, 166.1 megawatt-hours of storage, and 82.5 megawatts of peak load.
Expanding mini-grid caps and developer ecosystems
