The Federal Government has signed an agreement with the European Union and the German Government to provide £17.9 million for Nigeria’s off-grid electricity project.
This initiative, launched as part of the third phase of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), aims to promote investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and rural electrification.
According to the EU, this project is expected to grant electricity access to 154,000 people and connect 30,000 others to clean cooking gas, while generating eight megawatts of electricity in this phase.
The NESP was initiated in 2013 as a technical assistance program co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power.
At the launch and steering committee meeting for NESP III, Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized that a cleaner future requires collaboration among all stakeholders. She noted that the EU continues to support the Nigerian government’s energy security goals while promoting sustainable energy through an increased share of renewables.
Stefanowicz expressed satisfaction with the additional funding for this phase, which aims to develop innovative frameworks and attract renewable energy investments, ultimately ensuring reliable power supply. “With this third phase, 154,000 people will gain new or improved electricity access, and 30,000 will benefit from new LPG connections for clean cooking, along with the installation of 8MW of renewable energy capacity,” she stated.
She highlighted the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy transition, noting the importance of clean energy initiatives like solar installations in health projects, which are central to their partnership with Nigeria.
Deputy Ambassador of Germany, Johannes Lehne, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy transition goals, stating that renewable energy technologies and investments are essential for diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix and decarbonizing critical sectors.
He mentioned that the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development commissioned €8.9 million for the third phase in May, with the EU contributing an additional €9 million, bringing the total budget for the NESP program to €17.9 million, demonstrating ongoing support for Nigeria’s energy transition targets.
Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, remarked that the project aims to bridge the electricity access gap for 100 million Nigerians currently without power. He underscored the significance of renewable energy in addressing the electricity needs of underserved rural communities.
Duke Benjamin, Head of Programme at NESP, added that the project, which began in 2013, will provide electricity to rural areas not connected to the national grid.
