LAGOS (BG) — Nigeria’s federal government plans to learn from Egypt’s power generation and transmission systems.
Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu recently met with Egypt’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, in Abuja, according to The Punch.
Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, stated in a press release on Sunday that the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy development, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy and rural electrification.
“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,” Adelabu said.
“Many rural areas cannot be connected to the grid due to economic constraints, but we cannot neglect them,” Adelabu said.
He explained that the government is working to bridge this gap through renewable energy efforts. He said Nigeria has secured major investments to support the initiative, including $750 million from the World Bank’s DARES project and $190 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“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.
The current administration’s interest in Egypt’s model suggests a shift toward adopting successful foreign practices to address domestic power issues.
With a population of over 220 million, Nigeria has one of the world’s largest absolute electricity access deficits, according to the World Bank.
Lack of access to the electricity grid affects 45% of the population, making Nigeria the country with the highest number of people not connected to electricity.
The net access deficit has grown by more than 7 million people over the past decade as population growth has outpaced electrification efforts.
