The Rural Electrification Agency, REA, has reported spending over N28.7 billion of its N31.7 billion budget for 2023 on completing electrification projects across the country.
REA’s Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, revealed this information in Abuja on Monday while presenting the agency’s 2023 capital project implementation report.
He noted that the agency had completed projects valued at more than N28.7 billion, with N3.3 billion in ongoing projects expected to be finished within the next two months.
Aliyu highlighted that N6.3 billion was invested in connecting communities to the national grid, focusing on grid extension and transformer deployment.
Additionally, N131 million was allocated for solar home systems, N227 million for consultancy services, and N446 million for mini-grids aimed at electrifying electric vehicles across all six geopolitical zones.
The REA also invested N626 million in deploying mini-grids to support electric vehicle use and energize agricultural clusters, and N499 million on solar street lights to improve security in areas with challenges. Furthermore, N2.02 billion was spent on solar irrigation pumps to support farming activities nationwide.
Aliyu emphasized that the REA’s projects spanned all six geopolitical zones, 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Umar Abdullahi, Executive Director of Technical Services at REA, stated that the agency continued to enhance socio-economic activities in beneficiary communities by optimizing the deployment of solar-powered irrigation pumps, solar home systems, and solar street lights.
He also noted that over 330 kilowatts peak (kWp) of sustainable energy had been deployed through mini-grid technology, benefiting over 1.4 million underserved Nigerians.
(allnews.ng)
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