The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through its Directorate of Energy and Mines, convened the 10th and final meeting of the Steering Committee of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP) in Abuja, Nigeria. The two-day meeting, which began on November 2, 2026, aimed to take stock of six years of implementation and secure an orderly closure of the project. The project has brought electricity to 490 localities and nearly 500,000 people.
The meeting brought together national power utilities and Ministries in charge of Energy from The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali, as well as the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) and the National Project Implementation Units (PIUs). The project was financed by the World Bank to the tune of $225 million and regionally coordinated by the ECOWAS Commission. The Director of Energy and Mines and Chair of the Steering Committee, Mr. Arkadius KOUMOIN, welcomed the significant progress achieved despite challenges faced during project execution.
Mr. KOUMOIN emphasized that the true measure of the project's success remains the effective connection of households and the lasting improvement of their living conditions. He called for "decisions and concrete actions" to secure a responsible closure and the sustainable handover of infrastructure to national utilities. The Director also commended the World Bank for its substantial funding and ongoing support for regional initiatives aimed at improving access to energy.
The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) of The Gambia, Mr. Gallo SAIDY, described the project as an investment in communities, stressing that the number of households with electricity is the true test of its success. He commended the partnership between the Government of The Gambia, ECOWAS, and the World Bank, and urged all partners to complete what was started.
In Guinea-Bissau, the project completed more than 20,788 household connections across 90 localities, providing around 145,000 people with access to electricity. The Representative of the Ministry in charge of Energy, Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Pedro Jeus de Oliviera, highlighted the project's contribution to improving living conditions and supporting families, noting that energy for Bissau is a crucial national priority.
The National Director of Energy of Mali, Mr. Oussouby Mary dit Ousmane Diarra, underlined the project's impact on the lives of Malian populations and called for an extension of at least 30 months, subject to World Bank approval. In The Gambia, around 43,090 households were connected across 400 electrified localities, providing 344,720 people with new or improved access to electricity.
The conclusions of the meeting will be consolidated in a report to be adopted on November 3, 2026. Through this final session, the ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the closure of the project marks not the end of an ambition, but the consolidation of a valuable regional experience in the service of West African populations.
Key points
- The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project has brought electricity to 490 localities and nearly 500,000 people in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali.
