The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has revealed that many rural households now enjoy steady electricity through newly built mini-grids, but some of them are paying tariffs higher than those charged to Band A customers in cities.

REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during a television interview on Monday. He explained that while the agency’s mini-grid projects have brought reliable power to remote areas, the cost of electricity in those communities varies based on the infrastructure investment made.

“There are places where residents pay as much as ₦250 to ₦280 per kilowatt-hour, which is above Band A rates,” Aliyu noted, adding that other communities pay less depending on project costs.

Aliyu stressed that rural dwellers have shown readiness to pay for uninterrupted power, and the system has proven flexible enough to adapt to different community needs.

He also highlighted solar energy as the most sustainable and cost-effective model for rural electrification. According to him, the agency has completed several mini-grids and interconnected projects for schools, hospitals, and communities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The REA boss said the ongoing projects are transforming rural power access, offering both stability and a model for scaling renewable energy nationwide.