AEDC, NEDC Back Niger State Solar Expansion As Mini-Grid Rollout Reaches Over 180 Communities

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and the Niger Electricity Distribution Company have pledged deeper collaboration with the Niger State Government to expand mini-grid and other clean-energy projects across the state.

The support follows an electrification push under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s administration, which has deployed solar mini-grids in communities that had lived for many years without stable electricity. According to the companies, more than 180 previously unserved and underserved communities now have round-the-clock solar supply through the programme.

Beyond community-level deployment, the state has also shifted several public institutions to standalone solar systems. Facilities listed include Government House, the General Hospital, IBB Specialist Hospital, the Niger State Water Board, and multiple ministries, departments and agencies.

Power officials said the approach is intended to strengthen public service delivery and reduce dependence on unstable grid supply, especially in areas where service interruptions have been frequent.

In a statement issued Tuesday by AEDC’s Head of Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications, Omede Odekina, the company’s Managing Director, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, said Niger State’s policy direction is a proactive answer to long-standing electricity access gaps.

Okwuokenye said the initiative is consistent with current electricity-sector reforms and aligns with decentralisation efforts enabled by the Electricity Act 2023. Under that law, subnational governments can play a stronger role in generation, transmission and distribution inside their jurisdictions.

He said lasting progress depends on coordinated work among state authorities, regulators and licensed operators, adding that faster delivery of reliable supply will require policy clarity and execution discipline.

NEDC’s Chief Business Officer and Acting Managing Director, Engr. Sam Odekina, also backed the state’s strategy. He said deployment of solar mini-grids in remote areas reflects a shared commitment to inclusive electrification and practical access solutions.

“As the licensed intrastate electricity distributor under the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission, we are eager to work closely with the state government on hybrid energy solutions and grid integration where feasible,” he said.

NEDC operates under oversight of the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which supervises market activities within the state. The company said formal integration of mini-grid projects into the licensing system is necessary for sustainability, regulatory compliance and long-term commercial viability.

The statement referenced work in Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area, where projects were executed with the Rural Electrification Agency and development partners. Stakeholders said this model provides a practical option in locations where extending conventional transmission infrastructure is not yet economically realistic.

Industry operators view the Niger programme as a test case for state-level electricity reform under the 2023 legal framework. If implementation remains steady, the model could guide other states trying to widen access while balancing cost, reliability and regulatory standards.

For customers, the immediate issue is dependable supply at an affordable cost. For policymakers and distributors, the next phase will likely focus on scaling mini-grids, building stronger technical integration with existing networks, and ensuring that community electrification projects remain financially and operationally sustainable over time.