- Nigeria plans to electrify 3,700 primary healthcare centres with renewable energy, backed by $1.7 billion in funding from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and IFC.
- The e-H.E.A.R.T. project aims to improve energy access across rural areas, with a focus on healthcare and agricultural facilities.
Nigeria is set to electrify 3,700 out of its 46,100 primary healthcare centres as part of a new initiative backed by a $1.7 billion investment from global financial institutions. This includes support from the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and an additional $250 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
At a recent workshop in Abuja, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) unveiled the e-H.E.A.R.T. project, which aims to provide renewable energy to both healthcare and agricultural facilities across the country. Speaking at the event, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted that the €161 million investment under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) will also improve the power grid, adding 150MW through upgrades to 14 existing substations and the construction of 21 new ones.
Earlier this year, Nigeria secured $750 million in funding from the World Bank and $700 million from the AfDB. The REA is also aiming to raise an additional $1.1 billion from private sector investments to support its projects.
Adelabu emphasized that while many countries focus on carbon reduction, Nigeria faces the dual challenge of improving energy access and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. This challenge has prompted Nigeria to prioritize decentralized energy solutions, which can be deployed quickly and effectively in underserved regions.
The World Bank’s $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program is set to provide electricity to 13 million Nigerians, contributing to the country’s ambitious energy goals.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of REA, reassured that the Nigerian government is firmly committed to advancing renewable energy to improve electricity access nationwide. He noted that Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) have been thriving in the country, benefiting from private sector funding.
However, Doris Uboh, Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Fund, warned that the success of the e-H.E.A.R.T. project depends on effectively identifying and managing various risks, including technical, financial, social, and regulatory challenges. She expressed concerns over potential delays in funding, revenue shortfalls, foreign exchange fluctuations, and political instability, which could impact project implementation.
Other obstacles include technical issues like system failures, poor design, logistical delays, and community resistance, which may hinder energy utilization and efficiency. Despite these challenges, Uboh remains optimistic about the project’s transformative potential for rural communities.