UN Recognizes Nigeria’s Efforts to Expand Affordable Rural Electricity
The United Nations has praised Nigeria’s rural electrification programme as an example of how targeted subsidies and private investment can expand access to affordable electricity in underserved communities. The recognition is contained in the World Social Report 2026, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. According to the report, Nigeria’s electrification interventions have provided electricity access to more than five million people and supported the creation of over 5,000 green jobs. Citing earlier World Bank data, the report said the programme supported the establishment of 125 mini grids and the sale of more than one million home systems. It noted that targeted financial support could reduce electricity costs for low income households while encouraging private sector investment in communities with limited access to power. The report also identified Nigeria and Ghana as pioneers in integrating solar panels into agricultural land, allowing farmers to generate electricity while continuing food production. It said combining renewable energy with agriculture could improve food security, strengthen water management and create economic opportunities in rural communities. In its assessment of economic transformation and social inclusion across 168 countries between 2000 and 2024, Nigeria recorded a transformation score of 44.30 and an inclusiveness score of 56.36, producing a combined index score of 100.67. The UN cautioned that economic growth and technological progress do not automatically ensure that vulnerable populations benefit from development, underscoring the importance of policies that promote both economic advancement and social inclusion.
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