Over 85 million Nigerians lack reliable electricity, says REA boss

Aliyu made this disclosure in Abuja during the signing of a Joint Development Agreement between the REA and Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited. The agreement aims to establish a solar panel and battery assembly and manufacturing facility in Nigeria. Aliyu highlighted Nigeria's dependence on imported renewable energy equipment despite its abundant solar resources, noting that virtually all solar installations in the country rely on foreign-manufactured components.

He stated that this continued importation leads to a loss of jobs, technical capacity, and foreign exchange that could be retained locally. Under the agreement, the REA, through its renewable asset management subsidiary, will facilitate the annual offtake of up to 200 megawatts of solar photovoltaic modules and 200 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage systems manufactured and assembled in Nigeria by Ecotech. John Zhao, Managing Director of Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited, affirmed that the company will provide locally assembled solar panels, battery storage systems, and hybrid inverters, along with engineering design, system integration, installation, and long-term maintenance services.

This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trilli