Rural Electrification Agency and SAPZ aim to bring power to 103,000 people through innovative energy partnership in agricultural hub

The Rural Electrification Agency and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme forged a partnership on Monday, signing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at providing affordable energy to all SAPZ sites nationwide.

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This development was hailed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who viewed the agreement as a transformative force for agricultural productivity and rural community wellbeing across the country.

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The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, encompasses joint assessment, technical assistance, and energy deployment across SAPZ sites under the REA's Desert To Power programme.

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The initiative targets a substantial number of beneficiaries, including 25,000 households, 13 health facilities, and over 103,000 direct beneficiaries in each designated area, according to Senior Special Assistant to the President Stanley Nkwocha.

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Shettima, represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the Federal Government's enthusiasm for collaborations that unlock the country's potential, particularly in the agricultural sector.

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The Vice President commended the REA management for its dedication and resourcefulness, expressing confidence that the SAPZ programme would fulfill its promise to farming communities once fully operational.

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Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, praised the collaboration between the African Development Bank, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the REA, describing it as a precursor to greater achievements in the sector.

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Kyari noted that the programme aims to bridge the infrastructure gap in the agricultural sector, while also improving the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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Mahmuda Mamman, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, pledged the ministry's commitment to the REA-SAPZ collaboration and its dedication to realizing the government's broader aspirations in the power sector.

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REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu presented the agency's project portfolio, highlighting the completion of 424 mini-grid electrification projects and 693 ongoing projects across the country.

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Aliyu described the SAPZ partnership as an extension of the REA's proven track record of delivering impactful electrification projects across multiple sectors.

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Dr Kabir Yusuf, the National Programme Coordinator of the SAPZ, emphasized that energy supply is a critical challenge for the programme's successful implementation, expressing optimism that the REA-led initiative would improve the economies of production centres and provide sustainable power supply to adjoining communities.

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The ceremony culminated in the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the electrification of SAPZ sites under the Nigeria Desert to Power initiative by representatives of the two implementing agencies.

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The SAPZ programme, a flagship initiative of the Tinubu administration, is supported by the African Development Bank and aims to cluster agro-processing activities in designated zones across Nigeria's geopolitical regions.

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The programme seeks to reduce post-harvest losses, add value to raw agricultural commodities, and create rural employment by bringing processing infrastructure closer to farming communities.