The Federal Government of Nigeria has set up an Off-Grid Coordination Secretariat to improve the execution of electricity projects across the country. This was announced at the official relaunch of the Off-Grid Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Forum in Abuja, organized by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The forum brought together key partners, including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association, and Murty International Ltd.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, represented by his Chief of Staff, Doyin Adelabu, delivered a keynote address at the event. Adelabu identified sector fragmentation as a major hindrance to rapid electrification in Nigeria. He noted that fragmentation results in duplicated efforts, missed investment opportunities, and slower delivery of power to those who need it most. The Minister emphasized the need for coordination and cooperation among stakeholders to achieve the country's electrification goals.
The Off-Grid Coordination Secretariat will convene issue-based working groups and generate shared market intelligence. The Minister urged development partners, financiers, private operators, state governments, and civil society organizations to nominate focal points, share data, and participate actively in the Secretariat's activities. The Ministry of Power will continue to provide policy direction through the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan, while supporting state electricity markets under the Electricity Act.
The REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, highlighted the need for a centralized platform to help the industry identify existing projects and allocate resources efficiently. Aliyu noted that the Off-Grid Sector Coordination Secretariat will provide a structured platform for alignment across government institutions, development partners, private-sector operators, and other stakeholders. This will help eliminate duplication of efforts, reduce institutional and operational inefficiencies, and improve the allocation of scarce resources.
The Secretariat will strengthen coordination across the entire project lifecycle, from planning and project development to financing and implementation. This will be achieved by promoting information sharing, harmonizing interventions, and aligning investments with national and subnational electrification priorities. The REA MD emphasized that the Secretariat will provide a common coordination framework for projects, financing, technical assistance, and policy interventions.
Ikenna-Donald Ofoegbu, representative of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Nigeria, urged stakeholders to look beyond mere connection numbers when measuring success. Ofoegbu advocated for a strategic shift from successful interventions to scale, from connections to productive use, and from donor-supported projects to investable markets. He emphasized the need for a coordinated national ecosystem to ensure the sustainability and impact of off-grid energy projects.
The Off-Grid Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Forum has been instrumental in promoting coordination and cooperation among stakeholders in the off-grid energy sector. Government data indicates that over 7.5 million Nigerians have gained electricity access via more than 200 solar hybrid mini-grids and approximately 1.8 million solar home system connections. The Government is targeting 17 million more Nigerians under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) programme.
Key points
- The Federal Government establishes Off-Grid Coordination Secretariat to track commitments, manage risks, and eliminate project duplication in the power sector.
- The Secretariat will provide a centralized platform for stakeholders to identify existing projects and allocate resources efficiently.
- The Government aims to provide electricity access to 17 million more Nigerians under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) programme.
