Nigeria's energy map to guide targeted power investments: REA boss

Reliable electricity is fundamental to Nigeria's development, particularly in the era of Artificial Intelligence, according to Dr. Abba Aliyu, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The agency has recently concluded a comprehensive nationwide energy mapping exercise, identifying more than 750,000 communities that require electricity access.

“

Power stimulates economic development and growth, enhances agriculture, improves the quality of health services, and enhances the quality of education, especially now that we are in the era of artificial intelligence.

Dr. Aliyu highlighted that electricity is the backbone of economic growth, enhancing sectors such as agriculture, health, and education. He stressed that AI, which is increasingly integrated into various aspects of life, cannot function without a stable power supply. "The future is the electrification of everything, which means that whatever you do will depend on electricity, with AI at its centre," Aliyu stated, illustrating his point with the example of AI platforms like ChatGPT, which require significant electricity to operate.

“

The future is the electrification of everything, which means that whatever you do will depend on electricity, with AI at its centre.

The REA is adopting a strategy of providing capital grants to the private sector to de-risk infrastructure deployment. This approach aims to catalyze private investment and, by extension, reduce electricity tariffs for consumers. The agency's focus is on "providing grants for production rather than consumption," aligning with the current administration's vision.

“

Electricity is the backbone that powers AI, and I will give you a typical example. Many of us have used ChatGPT, which is a well-known AI platform, but what many people do not realise is that behind every response generated by AI is a packet of electricity that powers the process.

Furthermore, the REA is prioritizing the use of productive energy solutions to support agricultural clusters across Nigeria. Recognizing that post-harvest losses are a major challenge, the agency aims to provide reliable electricity to processing clusters. Dr. Aliyu cited an example in Namu community, Plateau State, where rice processors struggled with high diesel costs, making their products uncompetitive. The REA's intervention through reliable energy solutions is intended to address such issues and boost the agricultural sector's economic viability.

“

One of the key priorities during our planning was identifying critical government institutions across three sectors: agriculture, health, and education.