The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to learn from Egypt’s power generation and transmission strategies, describing the North African nation as a role model in the energy sector.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known during a recent meeting in Abuja with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad.
Strengthening Nigeria-Egypt Energy Ties
A statement released on Sunday by Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, revealed that the meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in renewable energy and rural electrification.
Adelabu commended Egypt’s advancements in power infrastructure, noting that Nigeria is keen on leveraging Egypt’s experience to improve its own energy generation, transmission, and distribution.
“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 stated.
The minister highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing engagements with Siemens as part of efforts to stabilize the power sector, inspired by Egypt’s success in energy transformation.
Expanding Electricity Access in Rural Areas
Adelabu also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding electricity access in rural areas through renewable energy solutions. He pointed out the economic challenges of extending the national grid to remote locations but emphasized that they would not be left behind.
“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 $750 million from the World Bank’s DARES project and an additional $190 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support this initiative,” he said.
He further noted that Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources—solar, wind, and hydroelectric power—would be harnessed for sustainable electricity access.
Egypt to Support Nigeria’s Power Sector Growth
Ambassador Fouad expressed Egypt’s readiness to collaborate with Nigeria on metering solutions and best practices in power distribution.
“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,” he said.
