Nigeria Gains 4.5m New Electricity Connections Under World Bank, AfDB Mission 300
The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced that Mission 300 has connected more than 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries, nearly doubling the pace of electrification since the initiative began.
The programme invests across the full energy value chain, boosting both on-grid and off-grid access. In Nigeria alone, 4.5 million people have gained electricity through private sector-led projects, showing how public support and partner financing can create viable energy markets.
In Tanzania, 7.5 million people have been connected — a five-fold increase compared to pre-Mission 300 electrification rates — while Ethiopia added 4.6 million connections after reforms made grid access more affordable.
Mission 300 aligns governments, partners, and investors around a shared agenda, driving faster results through stronger political commitment, deeper policy reforms, and resource mobilization.
So far, the World Bank and AfDB have committed $15 billion, attracted $4.5 billion in co-financing, and secured pledges of more than $7 billion from other development partners.
The initiative combines government reforms with layered public financing — grants, guarantees, and concessional loans — to reduce risks for private providers and expand service to previously underserved communities.
To date, 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts, strengthening energy systems, scaling renewables, promoting regional integration, and increasing private sector participation. More compacts are expected at the Africa Energy Forum.
World Bank President Ajay Banga said: “Electricity is not just about power. It is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity.”
AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah added that the milestone must serve as a launchpad for faster electrification to improve food security, health outcomes, and inclusive growth.