The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to learn power generation and transmission from Egypt, citing it as a role model in the sector.
Additionally, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to rural development through improved electricity access.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this announcement during a recent meeting in Abuja with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad.
Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed the statement on Sunday.
Adelabu praised Egypt’s achievements in the energy industry, citing the country as a model for energy infrastructure development.
He expressed Nigeria’s interest in learning from Egypt’s experience in energy generation, transmission, and distribution, noting that Egypt’s success led to engagements with Siemens with the goal of stabilising the country’s 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 added.
Adelabu emphasised Nigeria’s attempts to link remote rural communities to electricity through renewable energy initiatives, highlighting the economic hurdles of expanding the national grid to these areas.
“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. We have secured significant investments, including $750m from the World Bank’s DARES project and an additional $190m from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support this initiative,” Adelabu stated.
He underlined Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric potential, and expressed the government’s willingness to use these resources to provide sustainable energy access.
Speaking, Fouad underlined Egypt’s eagerness to collaborate with Nigeria, notably on narrowing the metering gap and sharing best practices in energy access.
He underlined the common interests and benefits of improving bilateral ties between the two countries.
“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.
