Abuja: The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to electrify 15 public institutions.
The management of REA issued a statement in Abuja on Monday. It said that the agreement was signed under the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP).
The statement added that ECOWAS would provide grant funding. This funding will support the electrification of 15 public health and education facilities in Nigeria using solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which generate electricity directly from sunlight.
According to the statement, the ECOWAS partnership formally launches Nigeria’s pilot implementation phase under ROGEAP.
ROGEAP is a regional initiative supported by the World Bank to expand off-grid electricity access across West Africa and the Sahel.
Under the agreement, ECOWAS will provide a grant of $700,000 to support the installation of solar PV systems at rural health centres and schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, and Nasarawa States.
REA will implement the project as the technical and financial implementing agency, the statement said.
Speaking at the signing, the Managing Director of REA, Mr Abba Aliyu, described the agreement as a strong demonstration of regional collaboration driving national development.
”This partnership with ECOWAS reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to expanding reliable electricity access to critical public institutions.
”Electrifying health centres and schools means improving healthcare delivery, enhancing learning conditions, and strengthening community development.”
Reflecting on the regional significance of the project, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said: “This pilot phase in Nigeria is a cornerstone of our regional strategy to eliminate energy poverty.”
Touray said that by providing sustainable solar solutions to schools and clinics, “ECOWAS is not just lighting up buildings; we are powering the future of West Africa.
”This collaboration with the REA demonstrates how regional grants can be effectively localised to touch the lives of the most vulnerable citizens.
A dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which is a team responsible for overseeing and coordinating the project’s activities, will be established within the REA to ensure effective implementation. The Unit will work closely with the ROGEAP PIU (the Project Implementation Unit for the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project) and an established Steering Committee, all of which are aligned with the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) agreement.
After the signing of the REA-ECOWAS agreement, the REA signed an MoU with the Niger Government. This agreement enables access to ECOWAS funding and provides counterpart support for project sites within the state.
According to the agreement, the Niger government will collaborate with REA on coordination, co-financing, and monitoring of installations in selected facilities.
Expressing his support for the sub-national partnership, the Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger, said that the state’s partnership with the REA was a testament to his administration’s ‘New Niger’ agenda, which prioritised sustainable infrastructure.
”By implementing these solar projects, Niger is ensuring that its rural health and educational facilities have the reliable power they need to serve the people effectively.
”We remain committed to providing the necessary counterpart support to make this initiative a lasting success, ”he said.
The statement said that the dual-level partnership structure with ECOWAS and sub-national cooperation with Niger strengthened institutional coordination and ensured efficient delivery of the pilot project.
The project is expected to improve energy reliability in rural public facilities. It will reduce reliance on diesel generators, lower operating costs, and promote the adoption of clean energy in line with Nigeria’s national energy policies.
Through this collaboration, REA continues to advance its mandate of electrifying unserved and underserved communities. The agency leverages regional partnerships to unlock sustainable financing and scale impact.
