The World Bank Group hinted on Tuesday of its plan to commit additional $750 million to improve access to electricity in Nigeria through the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).
The bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Western Central African Region, Ms Elizabeth Huybens, made this disclosure while inspecting the 60 Kilowatts Mini Grid Project being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through the NEP in Kilankwa Community, Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
She said: “This is our first national electrification project we see at work here, about $350 million is coming to a close, and we are preparing a successor project that will be $750 million.
“We are definitely extending our support to something that we think is critical and Nigeria is leading the world in small grid development”, the banker added.
According to her, the Kilankwa community’s project will add mileage to current drives by governments and private investors to improve access to electricity to more Nigerians.
Huybens expressed her delight that the grids in small communities were working and the need to think about how to fully optimise the use of the electricity generated through such interventions by the World Bank to expand productive activities in the country, especially in the rural communities.
She explained that the project was considered based on the development finance institution board’s believe that access to electricity by all is one of the most important goals to pursue by any country.
The banker expatiated: “We cannot move toward electric vehicles, if we don’t have electricity. In fact, you cannot even charge your cell phone without electricity.
“So, it is hard for me to think about modern life without electricity and it is hard for me to think about reducing poverty without access to electricity.
”And since the World Bank’s overarching goal is to help countries eradicate poverty, we need to help them provide access to electricity for its population”, she stressed.
In his remarks at the event, the Managing Director of REA, Mr Ahmad Salihijo, explained that the project being funded by the World Bank under the Performance-Based Grant of NEP, was currently serving about 300 households and businesses.
He said: “This has been operational for some time now. So, we are privileged to have come here with the World Bank team to see how it is performing. We are working on ensuring productive use and also that we have energy-efficient equipment connected to the mini grid.”
