The Nigerian government has expressed its commitment to learning from Egypt’s achievements in power generation and transmission, describing the North African country as a role model in the energy sector.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu made this known during a meeting in Abuja with Egypt’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, where discussions centered on bilateral cooperation in energy expansion, with a focus on renewable energy and rural electrification.
According to a statement by Bolaji Tunji, spokesperson for the minister, Nigeria is keen to adopt strategies that have helped Egypt achieve energy stability, particularly in generation, transmission, and distribution. Adelabu noted that Egypt’s success in the sector was a key factor in Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens to stabilize 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.
Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving electricity access in rural areas, emphasizing that extending the national grid to remote locations remains financially challenging. However, Nigeria is addressing this through renewable energy solutions.
He revealed that the government has secured major funding, including $750 million from the World Bank’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES)project and $190 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to expand renewable energy infrastructure.
“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,” Adelabu stated.
The Egyptian ambassador welcomed Nigeria’s interest in collaboration, particularly in addressing Nigeria’s metering challenges and improving energy access. He emphasized the mutual benefits of closer cooperation between both nations.
“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.
As Nigeria seeks to improve its power infrastructure, this partnership with Egypt is expected to enhance knowledge transfer, boost renewable energy adoption, and contribute to the long-term stability of the country’s electricity sector.
