AfDB strategises towards provision of power to rural communities

The African Development Bank has said that it would continue to support Nigeria’s Power Sector Recovery Program (PSRP) through the provision of technical intervention and addressing governance issues to ensure full implement of the programme.

The bank therefore undertaken a mission to hold further discussions on Nigeria’s PSRP with several stakeholders in Abuja recently. The high-level mission was led by Amadou Hott, the Bank’s Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth.

According to the Senior Communications Officer, Nigeria Country Office, Fatimah Abubakar Alkali, the high-level mission was led by Amadou Hott, the Bank’s Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth.

He added that the programme was designed to promote energy access to rural communities, through the expansion of the transmission grid, development of innovative financing products and provision of technical assistance to improve revenue generation by the distribution companies.

Alkali explained: “The goal of the mission was to identify opportunities for collaboration in the program. It included meetings with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to harmonize plans and areas of intervention, including the federal ministries of finance, power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the World Bank and solar power developers.

“The African Development Bank’s energy strategy identifies energy as crucial not only for the attainment of health and education outcomes, but also for industrialization, reducing the cost of doing business, for unlocking economic potential and creating jobs. In line with its High 5 development priorities, the Bank is committed to supporting Nigeria in the effective and efficient implementation of the country’s Power Sector Recovery Programme.

President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, said that Africa is simply tired of being in the dark. “It is time to take decisive action and turn around this narrative: to light up and power Africa – and accelerate the pace of economic transformation, unlock the potential of businesses, and drive much-needed industrialization to create jobs,” he added.