As 590 Million People Lack Electricity in Africa, IEA Charges Nigeria, Others to Prioritise Access to Modern, Reliable Energy Services
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says prioritising access to modern and reliable energy services remains an essential requirement for expanding healthcare solutions, modernising agriculture and other parts of the economy, as well as protecting the poorest populations.
‘’The need is even more urgent during a global pandemic’’, says IEA, the establishment committed to shaping a secure and sustainable energy future for all.
In Nigeria’s stimulus plan however, the Buhari administration is currently emphasising the role of both decentralised solar PV systems and LPG in providing modern fuel.
It aims to maximise the benefits of energy access by considering the needs of health services, schools, agricultural enterprises and similar organisations alongside those of households.
This is coming as the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that integrated national electricity access plans using both centralised and decentralised solutions adapted to the local context are already showing benefits in Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda.
But, the COVID-19 pandemic has been dismantling steady progress made in recent years to increase access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy – an objective enshrined in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).
Sub-Saharan Africa that is home to three-quarters of the almost 800 million people around the world who don’t have access to electricity is bearing the brunt of this reversal.
