ONDO, REA SEAL POWER DEAL TO LIGHT UP 25 UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

Gov Aiyedatiwa pushes renewable energy push to drive rural economies and jobs.

The Ondo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand electricity access—beginning with an initial programme to energise 25 underserved and off-grid communities across the state.

The pact emerged from a high-level roundtable in Abuja themed “From Access to Impact: Unlocking Ondo’s Renewable Energy Potential for Economic Transformation and Socioeconomic Inclusion.” Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa said the agreement marks “a new era of deep collaboration” aimed at translating energy access into jobs, stronger local economies and inclusive development.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Ondo has established its own legally backed State Rural Electrification Agency to act as a sub-national counterpart to the REA, enabling faster, locally tailored rollout of projects that align with national frameworks such as the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan. He added that the state has deliberately created investor-friendly conditions—clear regulations, fast-track permits and targeted fiscal incentives—that have made Ondo attractive to mini-grid and renewable developers.

According to the governor, the state’s Electricity Roadmap targets productive use of power: agro-processing hubs, digital infrastructure, health centres, schools and small businesses—particularly in last-mile and geographically challenging areas, including Ilaje, Bolorunduro, Idanre, Owo and Akoko. He said the administration is also exploring energy storage, smart metering and data-driven management to secure long-term value from new investments.

REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, said the agency has a national renewable energy funding pipeline approaching $1.6bn from public-private capital, multilateral partners and climate finance windows. Part of that pipeline, he noted, will support the Ondo partnership, with plans already framed to deploy solar mini-grids and other clean energy systems in the 25 priority communities. “We have the funding and we are ready,” Aliyu said, adding that Renewable Energy Service Companies with proven reach into hard-to-serve locations will be engaged. He rated Ondo four out of five on the agency’s internal policy readiness scale.

Ondo’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Alabi Johnson, said limited, unreliable power has long constrained growth in rural and peri-urban areas. He stressed that the administration views energy as an engine for productivity, innovation, job creation and poverty reduction, and is working to harness the state’s solar, wind, biomass and small-hydro potential for durable impact. The Abuja forum, he added, is designed to deepen collaboration with private developers, development partners and communities to ensure “no one is left behind” in the drive toward energy equity.

— Source: Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor (Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan Facebook)