REF interventions attract N5.8b private sector investment
The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) yesterday unfolded its attainment, stressing that its interventions attracted N5.8 billion private sector investment.
The REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during the “REF Call 3 Grant Award Signing Ceremony and Access to Finance (A2F) Workshop in Abuja.
Represented by the Executive Director, Corporate Service, Mr. Ayoade Adegboyega, he said the interventions culminated in the achievements of 16.6 MW of renewable energy installed capacity and created over 26,000 jobs and averted 91,720 tons of CO2 emissions.
“Beyond these numbers lies a deeper story of transformation—16.6 MW of renewable energy capacity installed, over 26,000 jobs created, 91,720 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided, and ₦5.8 billion in private sector investment attracted,” he said.
The REA boss said collectively interventions enabled the deployment of 124 mini-grids, the installation of over 25,580 Solar Home Systems (SHS), and the empowerment of 18,013 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Aliyu noted that the interventions impacted 183 communities across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Through REF Call 1, Call 2, and other flagship initiatives such as the Interconnected Mini-grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), and the De-risking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting
Solutions (DSOLS), he said the agency consistently demonstrated the achievable imbuing bold vision with strategic execution.
He said the commencement of REF Call 3 the agency’s mission went far beyond scaling capacities to about scaling impact and touching more lives.
This next phase, he said, “is designed to deepen penetration into underserved areas, catalyze productive use of energy (PUE), and foster greater empowerment of MSMEs, women-led businesses, and agricultural value chains.”
REA and about 39 Solar Home System (SHS) companies signed the agreements.
In her overview of Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and its programs Engr. Doris Uboh, emphasized sustainability of the REF projects.
She sought the adherence to the operational guidelines of REF.
Uboh insisted the companies must ensure the success of the plants.
She said, “Not left behind, which is the most important factor, is the sustainability plan that comes with our projects.
“For every project we do, every mini-grid, every solar home system, we ensure operational guidelines of REF departments.
“Every mini-grid, every developer who has his footprint in REF will tell you that some have been on a particular mini-grid for over 5 years, some going to 10 years.
“And the reason being, like I said, job creation and sustainability plan.
” We make sure that you are there, making sure the plant is being handled very well, if there is anything technically to be done to make sure that the plant does not fail.
“The developer that builds the plant is tied to that, not only to ensure generation, transmission and distribution, but also to collect tariff.”
