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Daniel Adaji
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos State Government have signed a strategic partnership to expand renewable energy access across the state, including a $150m lithium battery assembly plant at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Lagos State Energy Summit will support the deployment of rooftop solar systems for public institutions and other clean energy projects across Lagos.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressed the importance of the partnership in resolving the state’s energy imbalance.
“We have excess power generation—but it’s misdirected and not evenly distributed. This collaboration with REA will help bridge that gap,” Hamzat said.
In a statement available to Pointblank News on Wednesday, REA Managing Director and CEO, Abba Aliyu, unveiled a range of upcoming projects under the new alliance.
These include Nigeria’s first floating solar PV plant (8MW) for Lagos State University, a Renewable Energy University, and key programs under the World Bank-backed Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) and the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative (NPSSI).
According to Aliyu, “This partnership will also advance the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative (NPSSI) and the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program, backed by the World Bank.”
He added, “This effort is designed to empower local developers and build a robust market for Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) across the country.”
The initiative targets the replacement of over four million diesel generators currently in use across Lagos with sustainable, distributed energy solutions.
The partnership aligns with the REA’s State-by-State Initiative and supports the implementation of the 2023 Electricity Act, which promotes subnational energy development.
The REA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting private sector-led electrification projects, local manufacturing, and innovation to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition.