General
$83m IFC-Backed Funding Boosts Nigeria’s Off-Grid Electricity Drive
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has secured $83 million in fresh financing to expand off-grid electricity supply as the country continues to shift towards decentralised power solutions to boost accessibility and alternative solutions.
The funding, backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up programme, is targeted at private developers deploying solar mini-grids and standalone systems in rural and underserved communities.
The agreement was signed during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF in Washington, marking a transition from small pilot projects to large-scale execution.
This intervention comes at a critical time, when Nigerians are tapping into solar alternatives as petrol prices continue to rise amid current Middle East disruptions.
According to the World Bank, about 85 million Nigerians, roughly 40 per cent of the population, still lack access to electricity. Even among those connected to the grid, supply remains unreliable. National output continues to hover between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, a level widely considered inadequate for an economy of Nigeria’s size.
The Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme, Mr Olufemi Akinyelure, made it clear that the market is evolving beyond experimentation.
“This marks a shift from programme design to execution at scale. Distributed renewable energy in Nigeria is now a bankable market, not a pilot segment,” he said.
The $83 million facility is designed as a revolving debt model, combining concessional and commercial funding to provide long-term capital to developers. This approach reduces risk, improves access to finance, and allows projects to scale across multiple locations without repeated funding bottlenecks.
In practical terms, the first phase will support companies such as Darway Coast, PriVida Power, Prado Power, GVE Projects and StarTimes Smart Energy, while another group of developers is already lined up for the next round. The fund will allow the shortlisted firms to deploy power faster to communities that have waited decades for reliable electricity.
Backed by a $750 million World Bank facility, the initiative aims to reach over 17.5 million Nigerians by 2028 and deliver about 465 megawatts of distributed renewable energy capacity. Current data from the Nigeria Electrification Programme shows that more than 4.1 million people have already benefited, alongside the installation of over 175 mini-grids and 1.1 million solar home systems.
For many rural communities, it will help boost small businesses, healthcare delivery, and education. Traders can extend operating hours, clinics can preserve vaccines, and students can study beyond daylight. In areas where petrol and diesel generators dominate, the shift to solar also cuts fuel costs and reduces exposure to volatile energy prices.
According to the IFC Managing Director, Mr Makhtar Diop, the role of blended finance in unlocking scale helps address long-standing barriers within the energy ecosystem.
Special Adviser to the President on the Economy, Ms Sanyade Okolie, who represented the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said the federal government sees investment as critical to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
She added that the focus remains on attracting capital that delivers measurable improvements in living standards.
“For Mr President, the priority is to transform the Nigerian economy in a way that lifts people out of poverty. People must feel the difference,” she said.
On his part, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, linked the programme to Nigeria’s ambition of building a one trillion-dollar economy, stressing that infrastructure, particularly power and digital systems, will determine how fast that target can be reached.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Onamusi Onadeko, has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N50,000.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, was sentenced by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
He was found guilty on count 11 and convicted for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted on counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Mr Onadeko’s journey to the court started in 2017, when he was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a N68.7 million contract.
The politician, according to a statement from the ICPC, was accused of using his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute several constituency projects while working as a Senior Legislative Aide to late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
The commission, had in the course of the eight years trial told the court that several contracts like buying of ambulance vehicles, supply of hospital equipment and drugs for Primary Health Centres, as well as construction of classrooms for some selected schools in six communities of Ogun East Senatorial District, were awarded to both Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines, where the convict doubles as a Managing Director and nominal Director, respectively, an action that violates Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
ICPC also accused Mr Onadeko of making an inconsistent statement that contradicted the one previously made to the Commissioner for Oaths, where he stated that he is a Director of Haines and Baines Limited in an affidavit dated June 30, 20216, but subsequently wrote another statement while under investigation on May 5, 2017, that he is not a shareholder or Director of Haines and Baines Limited.
This action violates Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
However, Mr Onadeko, through his counsel, Mr Wahab Olatoyebi, argued in the course of the trial that his client was not a public officer as his appointment at that material time was on a short-term basis and non-pensionable, hence he, (Onadeko) did not fall within the category of those that could be tried under Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 which criminalize and punish abuse of office by public officers.
But this argument was rejected by Justice Oji, who stressed that based on the defendant’s letter of appointment as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan, legislative aides are public officers and therefore could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of students and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The governor formally inaugurated the commission at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said that although the successful rescue of the victims brought relief to the state, it did not provide complete closure.
He explained that the decision to set up an independent commission was not intended to undermine the efforts of security agencies but to ensure that every question surrounding the incident is thoroughly addressed and lessons are learnt to prevent a recurrence.
He charged members of the commission to conduct a thorough, impartial, and evidence-based investigation, assuring them of the state government’s full support. He also called on individuals and relevant institutions to cooperate fully with the panel.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, its chairman, Professor Mojeed Owoade, pledged that members would carry out the assignment with integrity, professionalism, and fairness. He added that the panel would seek an extension if necessary to complete its work.
Governor Makinde gave the commission four weeks to submit its report.
Earlier this month, the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, eight of the kidnappers had been arrested, but the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 23 sentenced three suspects in the abduction to life imprisonment.
According to the court, the sentencing of Mr Abdulrazak Umar, known under the alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Mr Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Mr Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.
Before their sentencing by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms, adding that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two Chinese, Mr Zhang Hong Lin and Mr Gao Pei Hai, have been convicted and sentenced by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.
They were both found guilty on all five counts levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced each to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the mineral resources recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.
“That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (currently at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves, with the intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue accruing therefrom, and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources out of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act,” one of the charges read.
The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, with the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, calling the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.
