The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, gave the assurance during an interview on Friday in Talasse community, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Mr Aliyu, who spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of a 620Kw small hydropower-solar PV hybrid system project at Balanga Dam, said that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to providing rural communities with electricity.

He said that the 750 million dollars project was a Federal Government collaboration with the World Bank, known as the Distributed Renewable Energy Scaleup.

He noted that the project was already being implemented, using renewable energy sources to improve access to electricity in rural areas.

According to him, the REA has inaugurated the implementation of 42 interconnected mini-grids and signed grant agreements with eight developers, aimed at providing electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.

He stated, “This is the first time in the history of the country where a means of powering all the communities has been designed by REA, as directed by President Tinubu. Mr President has provided us with funding and approved the biggest public sector renewable funding of 750 million dollars, that is being implemented to power 17.5 million Nigerians.

“He has also approved another funding of about 200 million dollars, and all these investments are targeted at improving access to electricity, that will propel economic growth in rural communities.’’

Mr Aliyu added that the entire country had been mapped and rural communities without electricity identified.

According to him, the peculiarities of the communities have also been highlighted including the least cost of providing them with electricity.

He noted that the government had put in necessary initiatives toward providing 100 mini grids across the country.

(NAN)