African Leaders set to Achieve Universal Electricity by 2030

Abuja, Nigeria —   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he joined other African leaders at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.

The two-day event, hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank, culminated in the adoption of the Dar es Salaam Declaration. This agreement aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

At the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, leaders from Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and other African nations signed the declaration, pledging to achieve the target through National Energy Compacts that outline country-specific strategies and reforms.

Speaking through the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, President Tinubu commended development partners, including the AfDB and World Bank, for their support in transforming Africa’s energy landscape. He called for collective efforts to improve energy access, highlighting the need for sustainable and reliable electricity to foster economic growth.

“Nigeria is fully committed to ensuring universal electricity access by 2030. This is an ambitious goal, but together, we can achieve it,” President Tinubu affirmed.

He highlighted ongoing projects such as AfDB’s $1.1 billion initiative, expected to electrify 5 million Nigerians by 2026, and the World Bank’s $750 million support for mini-grid and solar solutions for 16.2 million Nigerians.

Nigeria’s National Energy Compact, presented at the summit, outlines investments in renewable energy and clean cooking solutions, aiming to attract $23.2 billion in both public and private sector funding.

The President further noted Nigeria’s strides in renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure. “Our energy reforms have attracted over $6 billion in investments in 2024 alone, and we are determined to build on this progress,” he added.

The Summit concluded with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) pledging $70 million to support Nigeria’s renewable energy scale-up program.

By Enoch Odesola | January 29, 2025