Nigeria to electrify 304 health care facilities and schools with renewable energy

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to electrify 304 health care facilities & schools across the country using renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy under a program dubbed “Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification” Programme.

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This program is a part of the West African country’s National Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) for post-Covid-19 recovery, and it is financed by the Federal Government through budgetary allocation. 1

It will be implemented by the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria tasked with the electrification of rural and unserved communities, in a span of 12 months.

Scope of the project

According to Sale Mamman, the West African country’s Minister of Energy, REA will deploy solar power mini-grids to 200 public healthcare centers (PHC) and provide solar-powered street lights to the host communities. 1

At the 104 unity schools, the government agency will distribute Solar Home Systems (SHS) and provide solar-powered street lights within the campuses.

Upon completion, the program will enable job creation, improve energy access and help the federal government to attain 30 percent of renewable energy contributing to the power sources by 2030.

Advancing the financing process for project under NEP

On the sidelines of the announcement of the “Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification” program, the Nigerian minister for energy also disclosed that the REA has been advancing with the World Bank processes for financing a project to electrify 100 health facilities in a bid to close the energy gap in the health sector.

Through this project, which is under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), the Agency will deploy hybrid solar power solutions to 100 secondary and tertiary health facilities that have also served as isolation and treatment centers.