The Nigerian government is pushing forward with its plan to expand electricity access through the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project, a $750 million initiative backed by the World Bank.
The project aims to provide electricity to over 17.5 million Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To boost funding, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has approached the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for $200 million in co-financing. The goal is to attract more than $1 billion in private investments and additional funding from development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s power sector.
In pursuit of this, Adelabu led a high-level Nigerian delegation on a three-day visit to Japan to explore ways to improve the country’s energy infrastructure. The visit facilitated discussions with Japanese policymakers, energy experts, and industry leaders, focusing on power grid stability, renewable energy expansion, and sustainable energy solutions.
During the discussions, the delegation examined Japan’s advanced electricity dispatch systems and grid management strategies. These insights are expected to help Nigeria enhance its national grid, improve efficiency, and drive reforms in the power sector.
Meetings with JICA officials also explored opportunities for technical collaboration, capacity building, and investment partnerships.
Nigeria’s efforts align with broader African energy initiatives, such as the recently launched “Mission 300”, which aims to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by 2030.
This initiative, led by the World Bank and African Development Bank, is expected to unlock at least $90 billion in funding for power sector improvements across the continent.
Through strategic global partnerships like this, the Nigerian government hopes to accelerate electrification, support economic growth, and improve living conditions for millions of its citizens.
