The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jigawa State Government, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX), and Astound Power Limited to deliver 7MW of power. A statement by REA noted that the MoU, which was signed at the Jigawa Investment Summit (J-Invest 2026), will power a multi-state PPP initiative comprising seven Agro-Industrial Clusters across Jigawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Osun, and Ebonyi states.
The summit gathered policymakers, investors, development partners, and private sector leaders to discuss strategic pathways for unlocking sustainable economic growth across Jigawa State, with the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, officially declaring the conference open.
Under the agreement, the REA will deploy the energy infrastructure to power irrigation systems and processing facilities, while the NCX will issue NCX-backed warehouse receipts to eligible farmers and aggregators for export. Speaking during the MoU signing, the Managing Director of the REA, Dr Abba Aliyu, who served as a lead panellist at the summit, asserted that reliable electricity remains one of the most critical foundations for attracting investment, driving industrialisation, and generating jobs across Nigeria.
He noted that the MoU reflects a shared conviction that clean energy and agriculture must be integrated to effectively strengthen food security, create sustainable employment, and unlock greater economic value for local farmers and rural host communities. READ ALSO: Amosun, APC Gov Candidate Settle Political Disputes He further emphasised that energy is the vital catalyst enabling businesses to scale and communities to prosper.
Whether powering agriculture, manufacturing, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), or rural businesses, he maintained that investment inherently follows both opportunity and institutional confidence. “One of the strongest signals any government can send is a clear commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive,” he said.