Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) has said it has achieved a significant milestone with the signing of a grant agreement involving two mini-grid developers, ACOB Lighting Tech. Ltd and Offgrid Electric Limited.
In a statement, it noted that the developers meet the stringent prerequisites for participation under the Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST) sub-component, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the leadership of Salihijo Ahmad.
The “ground-breaking” agreement, it said, signals a transformative leap forward in bolstering off-grid power generation in Jigawa and Nasarawa states.
It added that approximately 7,747 customers across various localities in these states will gain access to an estimated 3,454Kv PV capacity, promising more sustainable and reliable energy sources.
“With an average daily load of 9,044kWh/day and 4,633kWh/day for Jigawa and Nasarawa states, respectively, the project is poised to deploy hybrid mini-grid solutions across 21 sites in Jigawa state managed by off-grid Electric Ltd and five sites in Nasarawa state managed by ACOB Lighting Tech. Ltd,” it said.
During the signing ceremony, the Head of NEP’s Project Management Unit (HPMU), Abba Aliyu, expressed optimism about the agreement’s positive impact.
“The signing of the grant agreement commits the developers to deliver within the stipulated timeframe. We anticipate them delivering the quality and quantity enshrined in the contract within the agreed period,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Alexander Obiechina, the chief executive of ACOB Lighting Tech. Ltd., conveyed gratitude and a firm commitment to fulfilling all contractual obligations.
“This is a significant achievement for us. The location and proximity of this project to Abuja give us very high visibility. We hope the cooperation we’ve received from you will remain sustained,” he said.
Managing Director, Offgrid Electric Limited, Khalis Muhammed, expressing excitement about the successful signing, projected that with the careful management of the facility, the lifespan of the project, would experience quality longevity of even up to 20 years or more.
