The Federal Government has expanded access to reliable electricity in Kwara State with the commissioning of a 581kWp interconnected solar mini-grid with a 1.4MW battery energy storage system in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area.
The project, which is expected to provide reliable electricity to about 1,800 households and businesses, is part of ongoing Federal Government efforts to improve power supply in rural communities, strengthen energy security and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
Commissioning the project, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the extended battery capacity would enable the mini-grid to supply electricity beyond daylight hours and into the night, improving the reliability of power available to the community.
The project was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme, IMAS, with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme, NESP, and contributions from development partners, including the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany through GIZ, and UNICEF.
Tegbe described the initiative as an example of how public and international funding can be leveraged to attract private investment into Nigeria’s power sector.
He said the approach provides clear market rules and promotes long-term commercial viability, rather than creating projects that depend indefinitely on government subsidies.
The Minister also urged residents of Oke-Oyi to protect the electricity infrastructure from vandalism and criminal interference, stressing that the facility was an investment intended to improve livelihoods and create opportunities for present and future generations.
“As we energize this community, we are also energizing businesses, creating opportunities, empowering young people, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient future for Nigeria,” Tegbe said.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the Oke-Oyi project demonstrates how interconnected mini-grids can combine renewable energy with existing distribution networks to improve electricity supply and support economic activity.
He said the Agency would continue to scale up similar projects through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks, while prioritising commercial viability, proper maintenance and community ownership.
The REA also acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Power, Kwara State Government, development partners, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited to the delivery of the project.
Representing the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, commended the Federal Government’s power sector interventions in the state.
He said improved electricity supply in rural communities could contribute to economic development and help reduce rural-urban migration by creating better conditions for businesses and livelihoods outside major urban centres.
The Oke-Oyi mini-grid adds to the Federal Government’s growing portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as it seeks to expand electricity access, improve supply reliability and support economic activities in underserved communities.
The Federal Government says investments in renewable and distributed energy remain important to building a more resilient and sustainable electricity sector capable of meeting the needs of communities and businesses across the country.