UN recognises Nigeria for milestones in expanding energy access at lower cost

A new United Nations, UN report has commended Nigeria for achieving significant milestones in expanding reliable energy access at a lower cost through innovative subsidy frameworks and strategic off-grid interventions that have connected more than 5 million people and created over 5,000 green jobs.

The findings, published in the UN’s World Social Report 2026: The New Economics of Social Inclusion, highlight the impact of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in expanding modern energy infrastructure to underserved and unserved communities across the country.

The report also commends Nigeria and Ghana for leading innovative agrivoltaics projects that integrate solar installations directly into working farmlands.

According to the report, this model allows communities to transform their food and energy systems simultaneously by harvesting sunlight twice on the same plot of land to optimise agricultural yields and clean power generation.

Citing the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) as a model policy intervention, the UN noted that the strategic subsidisation of rural mini-grids has significantly lowered retail tariffs for vulnerable populations while unlocking substantial private capital.

The report revealed that the initiative has supported the deployment of 125 mini-grids and facilitated the distribution of more than one million Solar Home Systems (SHS).

“Through these interventions, more than 5 million Nigerians now have access to reliable power, backed by targeted subsidies, lifeline tariffs, and pay-as-you-go financing models designed to ensure long-term affordability and widespread access,” the report read in part.

The UN also emphasised that targeted subsidies and differential pricing frameworks remain vital to ensuring an equitable energy transition. By prioritising energy efficiency and off-grid solutions in low-income areas, developing nations can secure high returns on investment, reduce disparities in energy access, and stimulate local enterprise.

Reacting to the global recognition, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the report validates the agency’s core philosophy that rural electrification extends far beyond counting megawatts.

“It is about building an energy ecosystem that drives economic productivity and uplifts livelihoods,” he said.

Aliyu also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing what he described as the world’s largest publicly funded renewable energy portfolio, noting that the agency has now facilitated more than 1,000 mini-grid installations nationwide.

He added that the REA’s expanding footprint continues to strengthen agro-processing, improve agricultural yields, and bolster national food security by powering irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, and rural cottage industries.

Aliyu cited the recent commissioning of a 1MW mini-grid project in Gombe State as an example of the agency’s efforts to expand energy access and support rural economic activities.