FG, firm to power 100,000 homes with $750m mesh-grid technology
The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, has partnered with Australian company Okra Solar and several Nigerian Renewable Energy Service Companies to electrify 100,000 underserved homes, impacting approximately 500,000 people with mesh-grid technology.
The disclosure was made in a statement signed by Okra Solar on Thursday, highlighting the initiative as part of the Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-up programme, a $750 million World Bank-funded project aimed at accelerating rural electrification in Nigeria.
According to the statement, Okra Solar will work alongside five RESCOs—SOSAI Renewable Energies Company, First Electric, Renewvia Energy, Creeds, and Electrify Microgrid to deploy mesh-grid technology to communities that have historically lacked access to reliable electricity.
“DARES, a $750 million programme funded by the World Bank, is the world’s largest energy access initiative. For the first time, a government grant programme explicitly includes mesh-grid technology, enabling even the most remote communities to access sustainable energy,” the statement read.
The RESCOs involved will share data with the REA to create an enabling environment for mesh-grid adoption and to help scale the impact of the initiative across the country.
It further highlighted that mesh-grids offer a rapid deployment model with lower capital expenditures, delivering over 98 per cent uptime and providing up to 2.4kW of AC power to support productive uses such as water pumping, refrigeration, milling, and electric cooking.
The partnership prioritises long-term impact, financial sustainability, and scalability, ensuring that the electrification projects will continue to serve communities well beyond the duration of the grant programme.
The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that drive clean energy deployment.
He stated, “The Rural Electrification Agency remains at the forefront of Nigeria’s drive to expand energy access using innovative and sustainable solutions.
“This partnership is part of the REA’s sustained efforts and commitments targeted at scaling up renewable energy access in Nigeria while powering homes, businesses, schools, and productive-use activities.
“Through this collaboration, we are unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods across the country.”
The CEO of Okra Solar, the leading mesh-grid technology provider, Afnan Hannan, emphasised the transformative impact of the initiative.
Hannan said,
“Rural mesh-grids in Nigeria are already outperforming grid power reliability in major urban centers like Lagos and Abuja. This collaboration is about more than just connections—it’s about setting a new benchmark for energy access.
“With some of the most innovative RESCOs in the world, we’re pioneering scalable solutions that empower last-mile communities. This is a defining moment for energy access in Nigeria, and we are committed to achieving 100,000 connections and beyond.”
The Managing Director of First Electric Power and Automation Services, Daniel Komolafe, remarked, “Today, we reinforced our commitment to expanding energy access using mesh-grids across the hardest-to-reach communities in Nigeria.
“We’re aiming to connect 75,000 people under this agreement, marking a significant step forward in our mission to be a reliable energy access provider anywhere in Nigeria.”
The CEO of Creeds Renewable Energy, Hannah Kabir, said, “It is commendable to witness the progress being made in including mesh-grids in the technology mix for DARES. This ensures an inclusive distribution of energy access resources for communities.
“Creeds Energy will continue to build on its longstanding experience with deploying Okra mesh-grids to scale up energy access across off-grid areas in Nigeria.”
