Nigeria is estimated to lose over $25 billion annually due to the lack of reliable electricity and related infrastructure, according to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu.
Aliyu made the disclosure on Friday in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the REA and Galaxy Backbone Limited, a government-owned digital infrastructure provider. The agreement outlines a bold partnership to deliver sustainable electricity and broadband internet connectivity to public institutions across Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The initiative is aimed at transforming the operational capacity of schools, hospitals, and security agencies by ensuring that they have uninterrupted power and digital access. This, the partners say, is a critical step in bridging Nigeria’s longstanding infrastructure deficit and unlocking the full potential of public service delivery.
Aliyu described the partnership as a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes inclusive development, economic diversification, and building the foundations of a $1 trillion economy.
“Year after year, we continue to see the economic and human cost of inadequate infrastructure—especially power,” said the REA boss. “This partnership is about more than just electrification. It’s about delivering the tools that enable learning, support healthcare, strengthen security, and drive community-level economic growth.”
The collaboration between REA and Galaxy Backbone will focus on deploying decentralized energy solutions, such as solar mini-grids and standalone systems, alongside high-speed broadband infrastructure. This integrated approach will ensure that public facilities not only have power but also access to reliable internet connectivity for smart service delivery.
Galaxy Backbone’s Managing Director, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the partnership reflects the agency’s commitment to supporting national development through digital innovation. “We’re excited to work with REA to ensure that government institutions—no matter how remote—are fully integrated into Nigeria’s digital economy. Power and connectivity are no longer luxuries; they are the foundation of modern governance and service delivery,” he stated.
The partnership is expected to have a far-reaching impact on key sectors. In education, powered and connected schools will enable digital learning platforms, improve teacher performance, and expand access to quality content. In healthcare, reliable electricity and connectivity will facilitate cold-chain storage for vaccines, enable telemedicine, and improve emergency response. For security agencies, enhanced infrastructure will support surveillance, communication, and coordination.
The MoU also highlights a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 4 (Quality Education). It positions both agencies as drivers of sustainable, inclusive, and technology-enabled development.
With over 85 million Nigerians still without access to grid electricity, and millions more underserved, the REA-Galaxy Backbone initiative is seen as a timely intervention. It combines the power of renewable energy and digital infrastructure to provide practical solutions for national challenges.
REA and Galaxy Backbone affirmed that they would work closely with relevant ministries, state governments, and community stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation, local ownership, and long-term sustainability of the projects.
As Nigeria pushes forward with its energy and digital transformation, this partnership represents a model for how inter-agency collaboration can drive tangible impact at the grassroots level—bringing light, learning, and connectivity to where they are needed most.
