“Minimum Subsidy Tender to deploy 213.4 MWp solar PV rollout across Nigeria” – Aliyu
Oredola Adeola
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has secured Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) from the Adamawa and Kaduna State Governments for development of mini-grid project sites spanning a combined capacity of 11.3 MWp and 6.0 MWp respectively, under its Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST) programme.
REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu, in a statement obtained by Advisors Reports over the weekend, commended both governors for their responsiveness and proactive leadership, describing the approvals as a bold step toward accelerating energy access and renewable energy deployment across their states.
Advisors Reports further gathered that the certificates, issued for the MST program’s pilot phase, which commenced in Adamawa State, cover three interconnected mini-grid sites.
These sites includes Kofare in Yola South LGA (8.0 MWp, 19,220 projected connections), Mbamba in Yola South LGA (0.8 MWp, 2,282 connections), and Saminaka in Fufore LGA (2.5 MWp, 4,660 connections).
In Kaduna State, land titles were secured for the Trapco site in Chikun LGA (2.0 MWp, 3,100 connections) and Makarfi 1 in Makarfi LGA (4.0 MWp, 4,000 connections).
The REA MD in his remark noted that the state government granted the approvals within hours of engagements adding that such decisive actions send a powerful signal to investors, developers, and financing institutions about the readiness of states to support large-scale electrification projects.
He said, “Together, these projects represent a significant expansion of interconnected renewable energy infrastructure designed to improve electricity access for underserved communities while supporting economic productivity, local enterprise development, and sustainable growth.
“The rapid issuance of these Certificates of Occupancy demonstrates the increasingly vital role of subnational governments in driving Nigeria’s energy transition agenda and creating enabling environments for clean energy investments.
“This development further reinforces the growing alignment between federal institutions, state governments, and private sector stakeholders in advancing Nigeria’s broader goals of universal electricity access, increased renewable energy adoption, and sustainable economic development,” he said.
He emphasised that the MST program is a key deployment framework under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), designed to accelerate electrification in pre-selected, underserved communities with strong economic growth potential through a competitive, private sector-led tender process.
Aliyu explained that under that framework, communities are identified, verified, and sensitized by the REA, while developers compete for the capital grant support required to deploy sustainable mini-grid infrastructure.
The program is being rolled out in phases, with the first phase prioritizing over 163 sites across multiple states, including Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Kano, Niger, Ondo, Ogun, Plateau, and Kebbi.
To improve operational efficiency, encourage economies of scale, and strengthen long-term sustainability, sites are packaged into state-based lots.
Collectively, the program is expected to deploy approximately 213.436 MWp of solar PV capacity across participating communities
