REA records key construction milestones in $750m World Bank power project

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, has announced steady progress under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Project, with key construction milestones achieved across several sites.

The DARES Project, a $750 million World Bank initiative, is designed to provide new or improved electricity access to over 17.5 million Nigerians. Succeeding the Nigeria Electrification Project, it aims to bridge the energy gap through the deployment of solar mini-grids and home systems, replacing more than 280,000 polluting generators while supporting rural and peri-urban businesses.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aliyu disclosed that work under the project was advancing in line with implementation timelines, particularly at locations being handled by Al Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited, where foundational stages for solar infrastructure deployment have been completed in multiple clusters.

According to him, the contractor has successfully completed the casting of mounting support bases in four out of its ten project locations, marking a critical stage in the development of decentralised renewable energy systems. He described this as an important foundation step that moves the affected sites closer to full solar infrastructure deployment.

Providing a breakdown of progress across benefiting communities, the REA boss stated that in Mekiya, located in Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State, mounting support bases had been completed across seven clusters. In Dagar, also within Gabasawa LGA, four clusters had been completed, while Ballagaza, still in Gabasawa LGA, had seen eight clusters fully cast. He further noted that in Maraya Rogo, Warawa Local Government Area, three clusters had reached completion.

Aliyu emphasised that the milestones reflect disciplined execution and sustained momentum under the DARES Project, which is designed to expand access to reliable and sustainable electricity in underserved communities through decentralised renewable energy solutions.

“These milestones reflect disciplined execution and sustained momentum. Each completed cluster strengthens the groundwork for reliable, decentralised renewable energy systems that will serve households, businesses, and productive users within these communities,” Aliyu said.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to delivery, quality, and long-term sustainability as implementation continues across project sites.

The DARES Project forms part of ongoing efforts by the REA to deepen electricity access in rural and semi-urban areas, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based power sources, and support economic activities through clean energy infrastructure.

With mounting support bases now completed in several clusters, the next phases are expected to include the installation of solar panels and associated infrastructure, paving the way for improved power supply to households, small businesses, and other productive users in the benefiting communities.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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