By Mary Izuaka

 

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has commissioned a 581kWp interconnected solar mini-grid with a 1.4 MW battery energy storage system in Oke-Oyi community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The project, which is expected to provide steady electricity to about 1,800 households and businesses, is designed to supply power throughout the night through its expanded battery capacity, Adeola Labzy, special adviser (media and publicity) to Mr Tegbe, said in a statement on Thursday.

It was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), the European Union, the German government through GIZ, and other development partners including UNICEF.

Model for partnerships

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr Tegbe described IMAS as a model for international partnership, saying it leverages public funding to attract private developers, establishes clear market rules and builds long-term commercial viability rather than dependence on perpetual subsidy.

“As we energise this community, we are also energising businesses, creating opportunities, empowering young people, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient future for Nigeria,” the minister said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for pursuing reforms aimed at building a stronger, more reliable and sustainable electricity sector.

Mr Tegbe urged residents of Oke-Oyi to protect the facility against vandalism, describing the mini-grid as an investment for their benefit and for future generations. He formally declared the project commissioned on behalf of the federal government.

REA, Kwara govt react

The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said Oke-Oyi demonstrates how interconnected mini-grids can combine distributed renewable energy with existing distribution networks to improve supply, attract private investment and support economic activity.

He said the agency is focused on scaling such models through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks, while ensuring proper maintenance and community ownership.

He acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Power, the Kwara State Government, development partners, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited for their roles in delivering the project.

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In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended the visible impact of the federal government’s power sector reforms across the state.

Mr AbdulRazaq, represented by the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, said the state had witnessed improved electricity supply since Mr Tegbe assumed office.

“Since this Minister of Power came on board, we have been enjoying stable electricity, not only in the cities, but also in the urban areas,” he said, adding that his own roots in a rural constituency underscored the significance of the project in curbing rural-urban migration.

“As the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and being from a rural area, we understand the importance of electricity in taming rural-urban migration. When you came on board, you quickly keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to deliver dividends to the people. I can categorically say that you are performing,” he said.

The project adds to a growing portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification projects executed under the Renewed Hope Agenda as the government pushes toward universal energy access and a cleaner energy transition.