The Federal Government has commissioned a 581kWp solar mini-grid backed by a 1.4MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State. This initiative aims to provide reliable electricity to 1,800 households and businesses in the area. The project was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), the European Union, and the Federal Republic of Germany through GIZ.
The battery storage component of the project is expected to significantly extend the operating hours of the mini-grid, enabling the community to access solar-generated electricity beyond daylight hours and into the night. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, who commissioned the project, said it underscored the Federal Government’s drive to expand reliable electricity access to underserved communities while promoting renewable energy and private-sector participation in the power sector.
The project is a model for effective international partnership in Nigeria’s power sector, with IMAS designed to leverage public funding to attract private investment, establish clear market rules, and create commercially viable electricity projects. Tegbe described the initiative as a means to energize communities, create opportunities, empower young people, improve livelihoods, and build a more resilient future for Nigeria. He urged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism and criminal interference.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) noted that the Oke-Oyi project demonstrated the potential of interconnected mini-grids to combine distributed renewable energy with existing electricity distribution networks to improve supply and stimulate economic activity. The Agency plans to scale up the model through stronger financing, regulatory, and institutional frameworks, ensuring commercial viability, effective maintenance, and community ownership.
The project was made possible through contributions from the Federal Ministry of Power, Kwara State Government, and development partners, including UNICEF, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited. Representing Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, commended the Federal Government’s power sector reforms and their impact on communities across the state.
Danladi-Salihu emphasized the importance of reliable electricity to rural communities, noting that improved power supply could help create economic opportunities and reduce rural-urban migration. The Oke-Oyi project adds to the Federal Government’s growing portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to expand electricity access, strengthen energy security, and increase the deployment of cleaner energy technologies across Nigeria.
The Minister of Power and other stakeholders at the commissioning ceremony agreed that the project would have a positive impact on the lives of residents in Oke-Oyi and serve as a model for future projects in other parts of the country. With this project, the Federal Government has taken a significant step towards achieving its goal of providing reliable and sustainable electricity to all Nigerians.
Key points
- The project was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), the European Union, and the Federal Republic of Germany through GIZ.
- The initiative aims to provide reliable electricity to 1,800 households and businesses in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
- The project includes a 581kWp solar mini-grid backed by a 1.4MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to extend the operating hours of the mini-grid.
