During a recent appearance on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief,” the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, provided an insightful summary of Nigeria’s energy strategy by emphasizing the crucial role of sustainable energy sources. He firmly stated that solar energy has emerged as the most economically viable model for providing affordable and reliable power throughout Nigeria, especially for underserved rural communities.
Aliyu’s remarks were made in the context of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s energy mix, which refers to the various sources of energy utilized to generate electricity across the nation. He confirmed that while the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is actively exploring other renewable energy options such as wind and biomass, solar energy stands out as the leading choice due to its comparative cost-effectiveness and adaptability in diverse environments.
Delving into the agency’s assessment of different energy solutions, Aliyu disclosed that plans to implement biomass energy systems have been temporarily suspended. The decision was grounded in a comprehensive analysis of associated costs, which revealed that the expenses incurred from transporting organic waste and converting it into energy led to excessively high tariffs, which made the approach unsustainable for consumers. He explained, “When we examine the expenses involved in transporting waste from disposal sites to processing facilities, and the subsequent processing costs, the resulting tariff exceeds what can be considered reasonable.”
In contrast, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is making strides in the development of wind energy infrastructure. Aliyu highlighted a recent partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Wind Energy Council, aimed at advancing small-scale wind energy projects. This collaborative effort is focused on establishing economically viable wind power systems that can generate electricity at tariffs falling within “allowable ranges,” thus ensuring affordability for consumers. He expressed optimism that if successful, these projects would pave the way for new methods of energy generation to be deployed across the country.
In a striking observation, Aliyu emphasized a noteworthy paradox within Nigeria’s electricity landscape: certain rural communities are benefiting from stable power supply and are willing to pay a premium for it often more than urban consumers classified under the Band A tariff. He elaborated that while a typical Band A customer pays approximately N209.50 per kilowatt-hour, some rural households are paying between N250 and N280 per kilowatt-hour for their electricity.
This increased expenditure reflects the substantial investments and infrastructure improvements made by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deliver reliable electricity to these communities. Notably, despite the higher rates, residents are proactively purchasing electricity tokens using mobile platforms, which illustrates willingness to invest in consistent and dependable energy supply. Aliyu concluded that this trend indicates a significant portion of the Nigerian populace prioritizes quality service over mere affordability, underscoring an emerging demand for reliable power supply in the energy market.