The Federal Government has announced its intention to study power generation and transmission from Egypt, recognizing the country as a model in the sector.
Additionally, the government reaffirmed its dedication to rural development by enhancing electricity access.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known during a recent meeting in Abuja with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad.
A statement released on Sunday by Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, indicated that the discussion centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy expansion, with particular emphasis on renewable energy and rural electrification.
Adelabu praised Egypt’s progress in the energy sector, emphasizing Nigeria’s interest in learning from Egypt’s approach to energy generation, transmission, and distribution. He noted that Egypt’s achievements in the sector contributed to its engagements with Siemens, a partnership Nigeria aims to emulate to improve its own power sector.
“Egypt has made remarkable strides in energy transformation, and we are eager to collaborate and learn from your expertise. Our goal is to ensure reliable, stable, and affordable energy access for all Nigerians,” he said.
Expanding Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy
Adelabu underscored Nigeria’s initiatives to provide electricity to remote rural areas through renewable energy projects, given the financial limitations of extending the national grid to these locations.
“Many rural areas cannot be connected to the grid due to economic constraints, but we cannot neglect them. Through our renewable energy programme, we are bridging this gap. We have secured significant investments, including $750m from the World Bank’s DARES project and an additional $190m from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support this initiative,” he stated.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, stressing the government’s determination to leverage these resources for sustainable electricity supply.
Strengthening Nigeria-Egypt Energy Collaboration
Ambassador Mohammed Fouad conveyed Egypt’s willingness to collaborate with Nigeria, particularly in addressing the metering gap and exchanging best practices to enhance energy access.
“Nigeria and Egypt have much in common, and there is immense potential for collaboration in the energy sector. We are committed to working together to achieve sustainable energy solutions for both countries,” Fouad said.
