The Federal Government has expressed interest in learning power generation and transmission techniques from Egypt, describing it as exemplary.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to rural development through enhanced electricity access during a meeting in Abuja.
Adelabu met with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy sector expansion.
A statement from the minister’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed that the meeting focused on renewable energy and rural electrification.
The minister commended Egypt’s achievements in power infrastructure, emphasizing Nigeria’s interest in adopting its energy generation and transmission model.
He highlighted Egypt’s progress in the energy sector, which influenced Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens to stabilize its power industry.
“Egypt has achieved significant milestones in energy transformation, and we want to collaborate and benefit from your expertise.”
Adelabu emphasized Nigeria’s goal to ensure stable, reliable, and affordable electricity access for all citizens across the country.
Nigeria’s Commitment to Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Expansion
Adelabu discussed Nigeria’s initiatives to connect rural communities to electricity through renewable energy due to economic grid expansion challenges.
“Many rural areas remain unconnected to the grid, but we cannot ignore them in our development plans,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria’s renewable energy programme had attracted major investments from international financial institutions for sector development.
Adelabu revealed that Nigeria secured $750 million from the World Bank’s DARES project and $190 million from Japan.
He stated that Nigeria has abundant renewable resources, including solar, wind, and hydro, crucial for sustainable national electricity generation.
The minister reiterated the government’s determination to harness these resources efficiently for nationwide electrification and economic development projects.
Egypt Expresses Readiness for Collaboration on Power Infrastructure
Ambassador Fouad expressed Egypt’s enthusiasm for strengthening energy collaboration with Nigeria and closing the country’s widening electricity metering gap.
He highlighted Egypt’s commitment to sharing expertise and best practices in power access, transmission, and energy infrastructure management.
“Nigeria and Egypt share many similarities, and cooperation in energy will bring mutual benefits for both nations’ economic growth,” Fouad stated.
He emphasized the immense potential in fostering stronger bilateral relations to achieve sustainable energy solutions for both African countries.
The meeting reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to advancing their partnership in power sector development and energy infrastructure modernization.
