REA to Prioritise Solar Energy for Public Institutions in 2025

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Rural Electrification Agency says it will prioritise the provision of solar-powered energy to public institutions across the country in its agenda in the 2025 fiscal year.

Managing Director of the agency, Abba Aliyu stated this on Wednesday shortly after presenting the REA’s 2024 budget performance and projections of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

Aliyu told the House of Representatives committee on Rural Electrification Agency, chaired by Representative Ibrahim Bukar that President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the deployment of solar power in the public sector is intended to cut the cost of governance.

He said, “What we did today is to present the 2025 budget proposal which is the biggest REA’s budget so far in the history of the country. The first key aspect of our 2025 budget is the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative, an initiative of President Bola Tinubu with a proposal of N100bn provided.

Aliyu in a brief interview with journalists after the budget defence highlighted the key achievements of the agency in the past year.

“For the 2024 budget performance, REA implemented various aspects of work. Key among them was grid extension and the deployment of mini-grids for productive use, which specifically were chosen and deployed within agricultural areas.

“We also carried out deployment of solar home systems. We did a substantial number of that deployment in 2024,” he added.

The REA boss also commended President Tinubu for the huge allocation to the agency in the 2025 budget proposal, saying, “I think we’ve never had it this good. REA’s budget proposal for this year (2025) is excellent.

“If you look at last year, the total budget presentation was about N160bn, but this year, we have over N500bn. So, our budget allocation for this year is more than good for us. All that is required is for us to go deploy it and start implementation of our projects to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President,” he stated.

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