The ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian Agency Rural Electrification Authority (REA) signed on Monday, February 23, 2026 of one of a memorandum of understanding, in Abuja. This initiative specifically targets the State of Niger, in the central-northern region of the country.

The Rural Electrification Agency has obtained a $700,000 grant from the ECOWAS Commission to electrify 15 public health and education institutions across the country through solar photovoltaic systems. According to a statement from the agency, the agreement foresees funding from ECOWAS for the electrification of infrastructures public health and education facilities located in the Capital Territory federal, the State of Niger and the State of Nasarawa. The objective is to provide a stable and sustainable supply of electricity to public infrastructures essential. By giving priority to “primary health centers and schools”, this project aims to transform the quality of basic social services in areas that have been historically neglected by the network conventional electric. Under the terms of this agreement, ECOWAS will grant a $700,000 grant to support the installation of photovoltaic systems in health centers and schools in the environment rural. The project will be implemented by the Regional Agency for Economy and research (ARE) as a technical and financial implementing agency.

According to the managing director of the REA, Dr. Abba Aliyu, “this partnership with ECOWAS strengthens Nigeria's commitment to expanding access to reliable electricity to essential public institutions. The electrification of health centers and of schools will improve the delivery of health care, conditions for learning and for consolidating community development”.