… says it will fast-track large scale project delivery
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, has confirmed that the newly released mini-grid regulations will accelerate large-scale renewable energy project delivery in Nigeria, with immediate benefits for developers under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up, Nigeria Electrification Project, and the Energizing Education Programme.
The MD stated this in his remarks on the updated regulation released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, emphasizing that it came to life after two years of sustained advocacy and technical submissions by the agency.
According to him, the regulation represents a shift from scarcity thinking to a strategy of scale and innovation.
He noted that for too long, vital projects were delayed and investments slowed due to a system that failed to match the ambition of the Nigerian people.
By aligning policy with the practical realities faced by developers on the ground, the new rules are expected to unlock massive opportunities for millions of Nigerians currently living without reliable power in underserved areas.
The REA Boss further expressed appreciation to the NERC Chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni and the NERC team, stating that their openness to collaboration has effectively written their names in gold.
He emphasized that for developers working under major initiatives like DARES, NEP, and the Energizing Education Programme, the impact of this reform is immediate.
“The work now shifts from navigating bureaucratic hurdles to accelerating the deployment of infrastructure that can finally meet the true demand of underserved communities.
“The new regulations provide for an increase in capacity thresholds, which have been raised from the previous 1MW limit to 5MW for isolated mini-grids and 10MW for interconnected mini-grids.
“This allows developers to build larger, more robust systems without being trapped in the complex regulatory requirements typically reserved for utility-scale power plants.
“The regulation also introduces a single permit that consolidates generation, distribution, and supply, eliminating costly and time-consuming dual-licensing processes that previously stalled progress,” Aliyu said.
The REA MD further hailed the new regulation for introducing practical environmental compliance pathways specifically designed for solar PV and battery systems, alongside defined energization timelines.
He noted that these new reforms will ensure that once a project is built, it is commissioned and delivering power to the people without unnecessary delay.
