In a bid to expand energy access and stimulate commercial activity in off-grid communities, the Federal Government has commissioned a 581 kWp Interconnected Solar Mini-Grid featuring a 1.4 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The project, which is set to connect 1,800 businesses and households, is designed to ensure uninterrupted power supply, including night-time demand, through its high-capacity battery storage.
Delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), the initiative was funded through a public-private partnership backed by the European Union, the German Government via GIZ, UNICEF, and other international development partners.
In a statement issued to journalists on Thursday, Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, framed the project as a scalable blueprint for sustainable energy infrastructure, emphasising its ability to crowd in private sector capital without relying on perpetual state subsidies.
‘IMAS demonstrates how strategic public funding can de-risk energy infrastructure, establish clear market mechanics, and build long-term commercial viability for private developers
‘As we energise this community, we are also energising businesses, creating opportunities, empowering young people, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient future for Nigeria,’ the Minister said, commending the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration, he noted, continues to pursue the fundamental reforms required to build a stronger, more reliable and more sustainable electricity sector for the country.
Tegbe urged the people of Oke-Oyi to guard the newly commissioned assets against vandalism and criminal interference, describing the mini-grid as an investment built for their benefit and for the prosperity of generations to come.
For Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Oke-Oyi model illustrates how distributed renewable energy systems can integrate with existing distribution company (DisCo) networks, in this case, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), to enhance supply reliability, drive industrial throughput, and ensure revenue sustainability for operators like developer Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited.
Aliyu said the Agency is focused on scaling such models through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks, while ensuring commercial viability, proper maintenance and community ownership.
He acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Power, Kwara State Government and development partners, as well as Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited, for their roles in delivering the project.
Representing Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, highlighted the macroeconomic benefits of the deployment, noting that reliable rural power is vital for curbing rural-to-urban migration and fostering grassroots industrialisation.
‘Since this Minister of Power came on board, we have been enjoying stable electricity, not only in the cities, but also in the urban areas,’ he said, adding that his own roots in a rural constituency underscored the significance of the project in curbing rural-urban migration.
‘As the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and being from a rural area, we understand the importance of electricity in taming rural-urban migration. When you came on board, you quickly keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to deliver dividends to the people. I can categorically say that you are performing,’ he said.