Twenty-three newly deployed solar-powered mini-grids are already improving agricultural productivity and strengthening Nigeria’s food security by providing reliable electricity to underserved rural communities, the Federal Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have said.
Speaking at the media launch of the Africa Mini-Grid Programme (AMP) in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the partnership between the REA, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a strong example of collaboration driving sustainable energy access across the country.
Tegbe said the initiative is accelerating Nigeria’s progress towards universal electricity access, adding that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is prioritising innovative renewable energy solutions to electrify unserved and underserved communities, as well as key agricultural clusters.
According to the minister, the programme extends beyond providing electricity infrastructure by transforming rural livelihoods, stimulating local economies and supporting agricultural development.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Dr. Abba Aliyu, said the programme is designed to deliver lasting economic benefits that strengthen Nigeria’s food systems.
He noted that measuring energy access should go beyond the number of households connected to electricity, stressing that the Africa Mini-Grid Programme is linking electricity access with productive agricultural activities.
Aliyu explained that the 23 solar mini-grids, deployed in historically underserved communities, are enabling local rice processors to double their daily production while creating new rural supply chains.
He added that farmers can now process and preserve produce closer to their farms, reducing post-harvest losses and cutting transportation costs. The reliable power supply is also supporting income diversification by allowing women entrepreneurs and local artisans to extend business hours and increase productivity.
The REA said the initiative demonstrates how decentralised renewable energy can drive rural economic growth while improving food security and livelihoods across Nigeria.
