Niger State Will Benefit from ECOWAS and REA Electrification Program
Niger State is set to benefit from the Regional Office Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), an initiative led by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago attended the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between REA and ECOWAS at their Secretariat in Abuja.
The project aims to improve living conditions, strengthen institutional capacity, and create opportunities by electrifying primary healthcare facilities and schools across the state.
During the event, Governor Bago praised the partnership, stating that Niger State has become a pilot for ROGEAP because of its size, agricultural potential, and efforts to connect to the national grid.
He also expressed appreciation for ECOWAS’s dedication to expanding energy access and hopes for more cooperation in education and other sectors.
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of ECOWAS, shared that initial efforts will focus on electrifying 15 schools and health centers, with plans to expand to additional public facilities as new projects develop.
He mentioned that technical teams will work together to complete bidding documents, including specifications for solar power systems, and conduct competitive bidding to choose private partners for quick project implementation.
Dr. Touray expressed confidence that, with strong funding, the project will be sustainable and aims to be finished by mid-June 2026.
He thanked Governor Bago for his active participation, highlighting the shared goal of making the project successful, and promised continued support.
Additionally, REA Managing Director Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu stated that ROGEAP aligns with REA’s strategic goals, focusing on the cost-efficiency of deploying distributed renewable energy.
He noted that Niger State has a strong partnership with REA, including over 80 mini-grids serving 70,000 households and powering facilities like Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai, with around 60 megawatts of clean energy.
He reiterated REA’s commitment to the success of ROGEAP and its collaboration with the Niger State government.
Recently, the Niger State Government also entered into a strategic, long-term partnership with REA to expand sustainable, decentralized solar power solutions throughout rural communities.
