A delegation of senior officials from Nigeria has commended Rwanda for the strides it continues to make in expanding electricity access across the country.
The Nigerian delegation composed of more than thirty high level managers was headed by Hon. Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology. Their discussions with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rwanda Energy Group focused on strengthening cooperation in the energy sector between Rwanda and Nigeria.
Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Jimmy Gasore, together with senior leaders of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) led by CEO Armand Zingiro, hosted the officials from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) ona five-day study visit.
Minister Nnaji praised Rwanda for its achievements in advancing the energy sector, especially the access to electricity which stands at 85%, noting that collaboration between the two countries would be vital in boosting sustainable energy development. He emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to accelerate access to power. Nigeria produces more than 14,000MW and has the access rate of 66%, with a population of more than 260 million people.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged ideas on policy frameworks and strategic plans for sustainable energy development in Rwanda and Nigeria. Nigerian officials were particularly keen to learn how Rwanda has managed to expand electricity access to a large portion of its population in such a short time.
In response, REG CEO Armand Zingiro highlighted that Rwanda’s success stemmed primarily from the government’s strong political will to ensure every citizen has access to electricity. He added that the government invested heavily in the sector and worked closely with development partners to achieve rapid progress.
The discussions also touched on clean cooking solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. Rwanda showcased its ongoing campaigns mobilizing citizens to shift from firewood and charcoal to cleaner alternatives of cooking such as gas, pellets, and electricity.
As part of their visit, the Nigerian delegation toured the Rwamagana Gigawatt Solar Power Plant, where they expressed appreciation for the technology harnessing solar energy for electricity generation.
