The Federal Government has unveiled a 505-kilowatt interconnected solar mini-grid in Epe, Lagos State, and flagged off the development of an additional five-megawatt mini-grid project as part of efforts to expand electricity access and stimulate economic activities in the area.
The project, located in Majoda communities in Eredo, Epe Local Government Area, covers Odogbawojo, Odoshiwola, Odoayan, Ora, and Ibowon and is expected to provide stable electricity for more than 8,000 residents.
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the project reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to deploying decentralised renewable energy solutions to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and support economic development.
Tegbe commended the Rural Electrification Agency and its Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, for driving rural electrification and renewable energy deployment across the country.
The minister described the transformation of the REA as remarkable, noting that the agency had evolved from an institution with “admirable mandates but modest delivery” into one making visible impacts on communities nationwide.
“I think you should commend him, who has undergone a remarkable transformation from a body of admirable mandates but modest delivery into an institution that is genuinely, visibly, and measurably changing the lives of Nigerians.
“REA’s footprint traverses the entire country. The scale of what REA is doing today is extraordinary,” he stated.
According to Tegbe, more than 1,000 mini-grids are currently under active development across Nigeria, while solar home systems deployed under various programmes have expanded electricity access to millions of Nigerians.
“Over 1,000 mini-grids are currently under active development across the country. Under the World Bank-supported DARES initiative, IMAS solar home systems have now reached more than 3.9 million Nigerians,” he said.
He highlighted similar renewable energy projects being implemented in Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina states, saying the initiatives were demonstrating that energy transition was already taking place across communities in Nigeria. “So, REA, you’ve shown that energy transition is not an abstract policy. It’s happening community by community, kilowatt by kilowatt, life by life,” Tegbe added.
The minister also expressed appreciation to the European Union, the Government of Germany, and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme for supporting the project. He said the Epe mini-grid would do more than provide electricity to households.
“Today’s commissioning is not merely about energising the community. This is transforming lives. It’s unlocking economic opportunities. It’s supporting local businesses and also improving education and health care services, in addition to creating jobs,” he said.
Tegbe explained that the Epe project goes beyond rural electrification, describing it as a fully integrated energy system linking generation, storage and end-user delivery.
“What we’ve done here is not just electricity. We have a solar mini-grid generating power, battery storage systems, transmission lines, and we are connecting households directly with meters. It is taking power from generation to the end-user,” he said.
Tegbe assured investors and development partners that the Federal Government would continue to support renewable energy projects and decentralised power infrastructure across the country.
“The Federal Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment that encourages investment in decentralised renewable energy solutions. We’ll continue to work closely with development partners, investors, state governments, communities, and the private sector to scale up successful models such as this mini-grid across the country,” he stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Aliyu, described the project as a milestone in efforts to deliver reliable electricity and unlock economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Aliyu said the 504kW Epe Interconnected mini-grid was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme, an initiative supported by the European Union and the Government of Germany.
“Today, we are not simply commissioning a power project. We are commissioning economic opportunity, industrial productivity, enterprise growth, and a sustainable future for the people of Epe,” he said.
According to him, the project will provide reliable electricity to homes, businesses, commercial enterprises, and critical community institutions while reducing dependence on self-generation.
Aliyu revealed that the newly commissioned mini-grid represented only the first phase of the agency’s long-term plans for Epe, disclosing that REA was already working toward deploying an additional 5MW of renewable energy capacity in the area.
“Recognising the tremendous economic potential of this community and the increasing demand for reliable electricity, the Rural Electrification Agency is already working towards the deployment of an additional 5MW of renewable energy capacity within Epe and its surrounding economic clusters,” he said.
The REA boss explained that the planned expansion would support industrial activities, agro-processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure, commercial hubs, digital enterprises, educational institutions and other productive-use applications.
He said projects delivered under the IMAS programme had already improved electricity reliability, reduced dependence on diesel generators, lowered energy costs and stimulated economic growth in beneficiary communities across the country.
“The impact has been tangible: increased business revenues, job creation, enhanced security, improved educational outcomes, and stronger investor confidence within beneficiary communities,” Aliyu stated.
He added that the Epe project demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government, development partners, private investors, financial institutions, electricity distribution companies, and host communities in achieving universal energy access.
“The Epe mini-grid is therefore a shining example of the power of collaboration,” Aliyu said. He noted that the project aligns with Nigeria’s broader electrification agenda and efforts to expand access to sustainable and productive energy nationwide.
