Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a £17.9 million agreement with the European Union and German Government to expand access to off-grid electricity. This agreement, part of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), is focused on promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and rural electrification.
Truth Live News gathered that the program’s third phase aims to generate 8 megawatts of additional electricity and provide 154,000 people with new or improved electricity access. It will also help 30,000 people transition to using clean cooking gas.
Despite ongoing international support, Nigeria faces substantial challenges in stabilizing its national power supply. The national power grid, which generates only around 5,000 MW for a population exceeding 200 million, has collapsed at least eight times this year alone, leaving vast areas without power.
For instance, within one week in October 2024, the grid failed three times, dropping generation to zero in multiple states. These outages are a significant concern, impacting households, businesses, and critical infrastructure. The frequent collapses highlight the need for an overhaul of Nigeria’s power infrastructure and continued investment to reduce dependence on the unstable grid.
Speaking at the launch and steering committee meeting of NESP III, the Head of Section Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, said achieving a cleaner future is the business of all stakeholders.
She said, “As we are launching this third phase, there is more for us ahead, 154,000 people will have new or improved access to electricity under this new phase. 30,000 people will get new access to LPG for cooking, for clean cooking. The installation of 8MW of additional renewable energy capacity is also planned.
“Achieving just energy transition is a business for all stakeholders. And the EU has
partnered with Nigeria to launch this goal for many years to achieve sustainable energy, energy security, energy efficiency, access, and clean energy.
“Solar installation for health projects, we support and work hand in hand with state governments. This is part of our key objectives, in fact, and at the centre of our partnership with Nigeria. Clean and digital economy and part of our global gateway strategy that works for the people and the planet.”
The government and energy regulators have promised to investigate and address these grid collapses. However, challenges such as funding, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate maintenance continue to plague the sector, creating uncertainty about the future stability of Nigeria’s power supply.