FG, World Bank Target 5.2m Electricity Connections by June 2026

The Federal Government is aiming to connect 5.2 million Nigerians to electricity by June 2026 under a $750m World Bank-backed project focused on renewable energy expansion.

According to the World Bank’s latest Implementation Status and Results Report, the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up Project (DARES) is progressing steadily, with 9% of financing disbursed and $422.2m already committed.

The report noted that the programme has already delivered electricity to over 3.6 million people, surpassing earlier projections.

“The project is on track to connect 5.2 million people to electricity by June 2026,” it stated.

Approved in December 2023, DARES is designed to expand access for households and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through private-sector-led distributed renewable energy systems.

Key components include solar hybrid mini-grids, standalone solar systems for homes and businesses, and technical assistance to strengthen implementation capacity.

Renewable energy capacity has already reached 38.76MW, with a long-term target of 465MW by 2028.

Thousands of households and businesses have been connected through solar solutions, while efforts continue to mobilise private investment and improve regulatory frameworks.

Despite progress, the World Bank flagged overall project risk as “substantial,” citing macroeconomic, governance, and institutional challenges.

The project is scheduled to run until December 2028, with a target of 16 million beneficiaries.

Nigeria’s reliance on concessional financing remains high. As of September 2025, the country owed the World Bank Group $19.54bn, representing about 40% of Nigeria’s external debt stock of $48.46bn, underscoring the Bank’s dominant role in funding infrastructure.