- REA and Nayo Tropical Technology Limited have launched a 40kWp solar hybrid mini-grid in Rafinzurfi Community, Gwagwalada. This marks the first time the area has received electricity in its 100-year history.
- The new mini-grid will provide clean energy to over 138 households and critical local facilities. Its focus is on sustainable operation through a locally managed cooperative and fair tariffs.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and private developer Nayo Tropical Technology Limited have inaugurated a 40kWp solar hybrid mini-grid in Rafinzurfi Community, Gwagwalada, Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the community’s 100-year history. This initiative, part of the REA’s ongoing efforts to electrify underserved areas, aims to provide sustainable and reliable electricity to the local population.
The newly commissioned mini-grid will benefit over 138 households, a community clinic, two schools, 16 commercial users, and 11 productive users, supplying clean energy to enhance daily life and economic activity. The project, executed under the REA’s Rural Electrification Fund (REF) Call 2 programme, represents a significant step in addressing Nigeria’s energy access challenges.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the REA, emphasised the importance of fair and affordable tariffs to ensure the project’s sustainability. Represented by Doris Uboh, Executive Director of REF, Aliyu stressed that a Rural Electricity Users Cooperative Society (REUCS), comprising residents, would oversee maintenance and manage the project’s long-term success. Aliyu cautioned against providing free electricity, which could jeopardise the project’s viability. Instead, a reasonable tariff would support maintenance and growth.
The REA’s initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance Nigeria’s off-grid renewable energy sector, which is seen as crucial for the country’s economic development. Aliyu noted that this project is one of 51 mini-grids planned under the programme’s second phase, showcasing the REA’s commitment to expanding energy access across Nigeria.
Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, represented by her Special Adviser Michael Bawa, highlighted the project’s potential for socioeconomic transformation, asserting that access to sustainable electricity would drive community development and create new opportunities.
Anayo Okenwa, Chief Executive of NAYO Tropical Technology Limited, underscored the project’s impact on reducing rural-urban migration and promoting local employment. Okenwa praised the REA’s support and expressed hope for future expansions.
Community leader Yunusa Musa expressed profound satisfaction, noting that this was the first time Rafinzurfi, established over a century ago, had been supplied with electricity. Musa praised the federal government’s commitment to rural development, reflecting the transformative impact of this energy initiative on the local community.