The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, has announced steady progress under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale up Project, a 750-million-dollar initiative supported by the World Bank. The DARES project aims to expand electricity access to more than 17.5 million Nigerians through solar mini grids and home systems, replacing over 280,000 generators and supporting rural enterprises. Launched as a successor to the Nigeria Electrification Project, it targets underserved rural and peri urban communities.
Aliyu said implementation is advancing on schedule, particularly at sites managed by Al Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited, where mounting support bases have been completed in four of ten locations. In Kano State, clusters in Mekiya, Dagar, Ballagaza, and Maraya Rogo have reached key milestones, marking critical groundwork for decentralised solar deployment.
He noted that the next phase will involve installation of solar panels and related infrastructure to deliver reliable power to households and businesses.
