Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, REA, and the country’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, SAPZ, programme on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide affordable electricity across agro-industrial processing centres nationwide.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha said in a release that the move was aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods in rural communities.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima described the partnership as a major step towards unlocking the country’s agricultural potential, saying reliable and affordable energy would enhance productivity in processing zones and stimulate rural development.
Shettima, who was represented at the signing ceremony in Abuja by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, commended the African Development Bank, AfDB, the REA and the SAPZ programme for forging the collaboration.
He said the collaboration aligned with the Federal Government’s drive to accelerate economic growth through agriculture.
Commending the management of the REA for its commitment and innovation, the vice president said the SAPZ programme, when fully implemented, would transform agricultural production, while improving the well-being of rural communities.
According to him, the Federal Government will continue to encourage partnerships capable of unlocking opportunities across key sectors of the economy, especially agriculture.
Under the agreement, the REA and the SAPZ will undertake project assessments, provide technical assistance and deploy energy infrastructure across designated processing zones under the agency’s Desert to Power programme.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the collaboration involving African Development Bank, Federal Ministry of Power and REA as the beginning of greater achievements for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He expressed confidence that SAPZ programme would address major challenges confronting farmers and other stakeholders by providing the critical infrastructure needed to drive agricultural value addition.
Kyari said the initiative was designed not only to bridge infrastructure deficits, but also to improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural dwellers in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mahmuda Mamman, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the partnership and ensuring the successful delivery of the government’s objectives in the power sector.
In a presentation on REA’s projects, the agency’s Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, said it had completed 424 mini-grid electrification projects nationwide, while another 693 are currently under implementation.
He said the SAPZ partnership is expected to provide electricity to about 25,000 households, 13 health facilities and directly impact more than 103,000 people in each designated processing zone.
The National Programme Coordinator of SAPZ, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, said inadequate electricity remained one of the biggest obstacles to the successful implementation of agro-industrial processing zones across the country.
He expressed hope that deploying mini-grids under the REA-led initiative would strengthen economic activities within the production centres, while providing sustainable electricity to surrounding communities.
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