- 90 million Nigerians without electricity supply, says, Minister
- Nigeria’s energy poverty remains a challenge
- Africa requires over $100 billion to improve energy access
The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, has stated Nigeria has over 90 million people without basic access to energy. He made this known at the 2021 Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF). He noted that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the least access to energy in the world.
“About 2.6 billion people still lack access to clean cooking solutions. Unfortunately, Nigeria has the highest electricity deficiency globally with 90 million unelectrified,” Jedy-Agba said.
“These are huge figures that must be addressed because energy access underpins economic development and enables other human capital, capital potential, such as access to adequate healthcare services, quality education, and economic productivity,” he added.
Also speaking at the event was the Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation, African Development Bank (AfDB) Wale Shonibare. He stated that Africa requires a huge financial investment to improve energy access on the continent. ”Africa’s expected demographic trend will worsen this situation as 57 per cent of the expected increase in the global population between today and 2040 will be in Africa,” said Shonibare.
“Achieving universal access by 2030 requires a significant ramp-up in spending to over $100 billion per year, with $51 billion for transmission and distribution lines, $34 billion for grid-generation and $17 billion for off-grid systems,” Shonibare stated.