Shettima Urges REA to Improve Electricity Access for Nigerians

The Vice President reports that Nigerians want better electricity access, calling on the REA to improve the power supply.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has been urged by Vice President Kashim Shettima to increase their efforts in hastening Nigeria’s quest for complete electricity accessibility, and guaranteeing that the populace gains greater access to power supply.

He agreed to REA’s proposal of partnering with the National Economic Council (NEC) as a means of reaching out to state governors and involving them in their effort towards electrifying communities nationwide.

As per the statement by the agency, it has obtained a total of $750 million in funding from both the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for powering rural areas throughout Nigeria.

On Friday, during a presentation by the delegation from REA on the National Electrification and Implementation Plan (NESIP) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima issued instructions. The group was headed by its Managing Director/CEO Abba Abubakar Aliyu and presented their plan to Vice President.

Shettima, Chairman of NEC, expressed his appreciation for the delegation and stated that he admires them and respects them. However, he emphasized the need to think big by exploring non-traditional ideas. He assured maximum support from the Council and state governors for this endeavor.

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He added that the presentation revealed a surprising correlation between access to electricity and financial inclusion. As such, he believes there is clear work to be done and assures his agency’s partnership in meeting the Nigerian people’s desire for electrical accessibility.

The Vice President praised the remarkable job of REA in various sectors and encouraged them to intensify their efforts towards providing more Nigerians access to electricity.

Nonetheless, he gave a low rating to the agency with regards to publicity, highlighting its inadequate efforts in spreading awareness and keeping Nigerians informed about ongoing endeavors towards tackling electricity insufficiency within the nation.

“Your PR management team requires an overhaul. It’s crucial that people, particularly Nigerians, are aware.” he said with concern.

“We used to receive 5 megawatts for Borno State from the grid, but now a single plant is producing 12 megawatts solely for the University of Maiduguri and Teaching Hospital. Your achievements have not been widely promoted, therefore I suggest you assess your media team’s effectiveness in both social and traditional media platforms to ensure maximum visibility.”