Di Managing Director and CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, don talk say more dan 85 million Nigerians, wey be about 40 percent of di country population, still no get reliable access to grid electricity.

Aliyu still complain say Nigeria dey depend too much on imported renewable energy equipment, even though we get plenty sun.

Im talk dis one on Tuesday for Abuja during di signing of Joint Development Agreement between di agency and Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited to build solar panel and battery assembly and manufacturing factory for Nigeria.

Aliyu call di agreement a big milestone for Nigeria renewable energy journey, say na di first time wey Tier-1 Chinese renewable energy company go agree to set up manufacturing and assembly operation for di country.

Im talk say even though REA don bring electricity to millions of Nigerians wey no get light before, through programs like Rural Electrification Fund, Nigerian Electrification Project, and Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up Project, di problem of poor grid access still dey serious.

“Over 85 million Nigerians, almost 40 percent of our population, still no get reliable access to grid electricity. REA dey exist to close dat gap,” im talk.

Concerning how Nigeria dey depend on foreign-made solar equipment, Aliyu note say almost every solar installation for Nigeria dey use parts wey dem manufacture abroad.

Im talk say, “Every community wey get light for Nigeria today dey tell di same quiet story. Di panel wey dey rooftop na abroad dem design am. Di battery wey dey under am na abroad dem assemble am. Di inverter wey connect evrything na outside country dem manufacture am too.

“Nigeria provide di roof, di need, and di market, while anoda person provide di technology and equipment.”

According to am, di way wey we dey always import solar equipment don make Nigeria lose jobs, technical skills, and foreign exchange wey we for keep for inside country.