The support of the United States government towards the Federal Government’s efforts to revamp the power sector amounts to a significant contribution totaling N115 billion in aid.
During the ceremony marking the agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Federal Ministry of Power, Richard Nelson, the Power Africa Coordinator, reiterated the unwavering commitment of the US government to enhance the power supply infrastructure throughout the African continent.
Nelson highlighted the ambitious initiative of the US Government, aiming to double the accessibility to electricity across the continent by the year 2030. He emphasized the substantial progress made over the past 11 years, with almost 15,000 megawatts of power projects receiving financial backing in 152 different projects, resulting in the leverage of approximately $26 billion.
The impact has been significant, enabling close to 200 million individuals to connect with electricity services across the continent. Nigeria holds a special significance in this endeavor, being a critical focus area since its inception and continuing to be a priority in the future. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) symbolizes a pivotal element of the ongoing engagement between Power Africa and Nigeria for the upcoming years.
The collaborative effort is set to intensify and expedite partnership initiatives between USAID and the ministry, with the Mission Director of USAID Nigeria, Melissa Jones, elaborating on the agreement’s potential to bolster the ongoing energy reforms in Nigeria. The launch of the Empower Nigeria program, funded at N115 billion, will further support Nigeria’s energy reform and transition towards clean energy solutions.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, underscored the strategic importance of the N115.2 billion partnership with USAID as a crucial stride towards overcoming persistent challenges in delivering reliable and sustainable power access to all Nigerian citizens.
