Image: Premium Times Nigeria
As part of Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has launched the Solar Power Naija project to enable five million solar connections for off-grid communities.
According to a statement issued by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an additional $18 million in annual tax revenues and $10 million in import substitution will be generated by the solar power program.
“The Nigerian government is committed to resolving the challenges and delivering the President’s objective to deliver efficient, stable and reliable power to Nigerians and put Nigeria on the path to economic recovery,” noted H.E. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria.
The program aims to provide energy access to 25 million people through connections to mini-grids or Solar Home Systems; develop local content in the off-grid solar supply chain; strengthen the local manufacturing industry; and create 250,000 new jobs within the domestic energy sector.
“This is a testament to our dedication and commitment to scaling the off-grid solar market through provision of long-term, low-interest credit facilities to the Nigeria Electrification Project pre-qualified home solar value chain players, which includes manufacturers and assemblers of solar components and off-grid energy developers and retailers in the country,” said Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, Managing Director of REA.