The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, the SRSG for the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. Abdou Abarry, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed M. Fall, visited Bama in Borno State on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, a day before the kick-off of the fifth Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on Stabilisation, Peacebuilding, and Sustainable Development in Maiduguri, the state capital.
UN High Level Mission to Bama. Photo Credit: Princewill Chukwuebuka/OCHA
The high-level officials highlighted the steady progress made in Bama. This includes joint Government, UN and partners efforts to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) with humanitarian assistance and livelihood support and initiatives enhancing social cohesion and reintegration through social and economic activities. They also noted the challenges that remain including violence, the threat posed by the climate crisis, and inadequate basic services.
The officials visited a centre equipping young girls and boys with livelihood skills run by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and a UNICEF-run social cohesion project at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) camp. In addition, they visited a nutrition centre supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) where malnourished children are receiving treatment.
The officials also spoke with women and adolescent girls at a UNHCR/GISCOR Safe Space and met with representatives of humanitarian agencies in Bama. They also paid a courtesy call on the Shehu of Bama Dr. Umar Kyari Umar El-kanemi.
“I returned to Bama today, eight years since my last visit – which was a few months after it was liberated from the insurgency. A lot has changed since then, with marked improvement in the lives of people affected by the crisis. While there is still work to be done to address insecurity and its impact on civilians, I thank the Borno State authorities, donors, UN agencies and partners for their commitment and dedication through this journey that has made Bama what it is today. I also call for sustained support to address the remaining challenges,” said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall.
Bama town remains vulnerable to attacks by non-state armed groups due to its proximity to the Sambisa Forest. This has made it difficult for communities to carry out livelihood activities, including farming, fishing and firewood collection. This has increased their dependence on humanitarian assistance.
Bama illustrates the situation of many communities across the Lake Chad Basin impacted by 16 years of conflict in the region.
The Creek Girl Empowerment Initiative (CGEI) organised a sensitisation programme in Esenaebe and Kpakima Secondary School, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, to educate and sensitise female students on the dangers of truancy, drug abuse, and prostitution, while promoting menstrual hygiene and care.
The CGEI sensitisation programme
The CGEi team visited the communities respectively, to increase awareness among female students about the dangers and consequences of truancy, drug abuse, and prostitution, to improve the understanding of the importance of menstrual hygiene and care, and to establish a support system for female students, particularly those of menstrual age.
The team also established the Creek Girl Care Clinic (CGCC), a support system for female students, and also provided sanitary pads, ensuring easy access for female students of menstrual age. During a feedback session, it was discovered that both schools lacked basic facilities, including toilets (WASH facilities) and sick bays.
Speaking to the students, the Executive Director of CGEi, Doubra Etolor, educated the girls on personal hygiene during their menstrual circle and in their everyday lives.
“When girls start their periods, it’s usually met with either feelings of excitement or fear, depending on how each girl views the coming changes that prepare them for womanhood. But for many girls in the creeks, it often comes as a ticking clock that marks the beginning of the end of their education.
“Many schools, including the ones we visited, don’t have safe and clean toilets where girls can take care of themselves during their periods, and beyond that, most girls in the creeks don’t have access to – nor could they afford – reusable pads or tampons. Without feminine hygiene prducts, many girls skip school while on their periods.
“That means they miss up to a week of school every month so girls start to fall behind and eventually drop out. So, to cushion this effect, the Creek Girl Empowerment Initiative, while carrying out its sensitisation project on curbing female vices, decided to distribute sanitary pads to girls of menstrual age. We also intend to establish sick bays in targeted schools in the creeks. So, we are calling on well-meaning individuals, organizations and institutions to support the visions and goals of this initiative,” said Etolor.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Neferok Development Foundation, Ayo Nefertiti Okotie, spoke to the students on prostitution and its dangers and encouraged the students to focus on their studies to become what they want to be in the future.
The programme had an interactive talk, where students were engaged on the dangers of truancy, drug abuse, and prostitution. The term “anyhow waka” was used to reduce the harsh tone associated with these vices. Emphasis was placed on the effects and consequences of indulging in these vices.
President Bola Tinubu has concluded his visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he joined other African leaders to participate in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria joins global leaders at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The President, who arrived with his team arrived on Sunday, January 26, 2025, is now on his way back to Abuja.
The two-day summit, hosted by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank Group, adopted the Dar es Salaam Declaration.
The Declaration focused on providing access to electricity for 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
The high point of the event was the presidential endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Declaration by African leaders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
Following the reading of the Declaration, leaders from Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia signed the document.
Through the Declaration, the leaders from the 12 countries expressed their commitment to ensuring electricity access for their citizens in the next five years.
The 12 nations plan to achieve the goal through National Energy Compacts, which identify specific policy measures to address constraints across their energy sector and set targets based on their unique context.
In the speech read by Mr Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, the Nigerian leader lauded the AfDB, the World Bank Group and development partners for their collective pledge to bring electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
President Tinubu called on African leaders to prioritise energy access, emphasising collective action.
“Let us work together to create a brighter future for our citizens—where every African can access reliable and affordable energy.
“A future where our industries thrive, our economies grow, and our people prosper,” the President said.
President Tinubu also used the occasion to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its unelectrified population by 2030.
“This is an ambitious goal, but we can achieve it together.
“As Nigeria’s President, I am committed to making energy access a top priority,” he said.
Detailing the substantial progress Nigeria has achieved with the support of international development partners, President Tinubu acknowledged AfDB’s $1.1 billion, expected to provide electricity for five million people by the end of 2026.
He said the bank’s $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project would provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.
“We also look forward to the AfDB’s planned $700 million investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and its planned $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide electricity for an additional two million people.
“We have equally begun making plans to ensure the effectiveness of the World Bank’s $750 million support for expanding Nigeria’s distributed energy access via mini-grids and standalone solar systems that will provide access to power to 16.2 million people,” he said.
President Tinubu thanked Mr Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Dr Akinwunmi Adesina of AfDB for their transformative vision, which he said “will light up and power Africa.”
He also applauded the contributions of the UN Sustainable Energy For All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for Development.
“As we all know, Africa is rich in energy resources, yet millions of our citizens still lack access to reliable and affordable energy.
“This situation is unacceptable. It is our responsibility to take collective action to change this narrative,” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu highlighted ongoing investments in renewable energy, particularly solar power in Nigeria.
“For example, the Federal Government is in the final stages of developing an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure programme emphasising renewable energy and establishing stricter vehicle emission standards.
“This will ease adoption barriers, galvanise partnerships, and provide affordable EV financing options. I am pleased to announce that the first 100 electric buses are already in the country.
“Nigeria’s energy sector is growing as a direct result of our reforms. The Nigerian government continues incentivising those interested in investing in renewable energy, oil and gas energy efficiency,” he said.
Tinubu said that buoyed by Nigeria’s successful attraction of over six billion dollars in new investments into its energy sector in 2024 alone, his administration is keen to build on this success in 2025 and beyond.
At the summit, the International Finance Corporation announced that it had committed $70 million in private sector funding to five Nigerian Renewable Electricity Service Companies.
This is under the Nigeria Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up programme, to be implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency.
Nigeria’s National Energy Compact, presented at the summit on Monday, sets targets with implementation timelines and outlines for the various planned reforms.
They include expanding power generation and investing in transmission and distribution infrastructure at competitive costs.
The reforms are geared towards financially viable utilities that provide reliable service, and incentivising private sector participation to unlock additional resources.
Other reforms include embracing distributed renewable energy and clean cooking solutions for affordable last-mile access and leveraging the benefits of increased regional integration.
According to the document, Nigeria will require an investment of $23.2 billion for last-mile electrification, including contributions from the public and private sectors.
Director-General of National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has called for dredging of major rivers and dams in the country to avert adverse effects of flooding.
Participants at the validation retreat on the draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa, in Abuja
Sulaiman made the call at the opening of a three-day validation retreat on the draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
The law was drafted by African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES)
Sulaiman said while Nigeria continued to make progress in enhancing its climate change governance actions, closing infrastructure gaps, including dredging of major rivers and dams in the country, remained vital.
He said that dredging would avert the ravaging impacts of floods and erosion that usually accompanied the country’s rainfall cycle.
“Whereas many stakeholders have recognised the need for dredging of major rivers and dams, the commitment of public funds in this direction has been poor.
“For instance, of the total of N14.85 trillion proposed for capital expenditure in the 2025 budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria, only 0.03 per cent is committed to projects aimed at dredging major rivers and dams.
“Dredging these waterways remains vital to mitigate the devastating impacts of floods in 2025 and beyond; hence, it should be given the necessary priority in the 2025 budget,” he said.
In his remarks, the AGNES Team Lead, Dr George Wamukoya, said that the effects of climate were evident in the African society.
According to him, Africa must put mechanisms in place to address the menace, stating that one of such mechanism is a legal framework.
Wamukoya, who said that the draft was put together by experts across sectors, added that adequate attention was given to administrative structure as well as the roles of citizens.
He said that the aim of the draft framework was to enable African countries to have legal frameworks on climate change to enhance the continent’s negotiation at the global stage.
The team lead said that the draft was for African countries and that they were at liberty to domesticate the law as it suited individual countries.
Speaking at the occasion, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Director in Nigeria, Dr Rose Mwebaza, said as long as the G-20 countries continued the current emission, Africa would continue to suffer the effects of climate change.
Mwebaza, however, said that Africa could not afford to fold its hands without doing anything, stressing that the continent would remain weak at the negotiation table without domestic legal frameworks.
According to her, one of the reasons Africa did not have access to enough climate change finance is lack of domestic framework, as only about four of the 54 countries in the continent have climate change laws.
She commended the initiative, saying that it would be part of the topics for discussion at the Heads of State conference coming up in February.
Mr. Walters Tubua, the Regional Lead for West and Central Africa, United Nations Climate Change, said that the adverse effects were visible on the continent.
Tubua said that Africans must roll up their sleeves and fight climate change, as the last 10 years had been the hottest.
He said that though the legal draft was coming very late, it was better late than never.
Tubua urged African countries to adopt and domesticate the law as an instrument to combat climate change in the continent.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, awarded 10 Gas Distribution Licences (GDLs) to six companies to deepen gas utilisation and expansion in the country.
Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed
The Gas Distribution Licence is being issued to qualified applicants to distribute gas at the “last mile”.
The GDL as provided in Sections 148 -152 of the PIA is a license that gives exclusive right to establish, construct and operate a gas distribution system in a designated local Gas Distribution Zone (GDZ).
The beneficiary companies include the NNPC Gas Marketing Company, Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, NIPCO Plc., Central Horizon Gas Company, Falcon Corporation Ltd. and AXXELA.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Abuja, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA, said over 30 applications were received, and due diligence was conducted on them in line with defined prerequisites.
“The licences being issued today will support the ‘last mile’ expansion, crucial in completing an efficient and interconnected gas network across the country.
“Ten licences are being issued today as part of Phase one of the GDL regime to operators who have invested significantly in developing gas distribution infrastructures in the designated GDZ and have met the prescribed minimum requirements,” he said.
Ahmed said a cumulative gas distribution capacity of approximately 1.5 bscf/d with over 1,200km of gas distribution pipeline network as well as over 500 customer stations were covered by the licences issued.
“The GDL regime holds a significant opportunity of developing domestic gas market through the supply of gas to the energy-intensive industries, industrial parks, special economic zones, embedded/captive power generation, Compressed Natural Gas mobility schemes and other downstream gas utilisation programme.
“Piped Natural Gas (PNG) provides continuous supply, is cost effective, safer and eliminates storage challenges. These advantages will not only increase efficiency in how we use energy but will also be essential in meeting Nigeria’s growing energy demands.
“To ensure the efficient and transparent operation of the Gas Distribution Network, the authority will monitor tariff setting, and safety standards to govern the operation of the GDLs.
“As we are issuing these first sets of licences, we have commenced the processing of subsequent sets to be issued after the conduct of necessary regulatory reviews, and the fulfillment of PIA provisions and Gas Distribution Regulations 2023,” he said.
Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), said section 148 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021), mandated the NMDPRA to issue GDLs to qualified individuals and organisations.
Ekpo quoted the African Development Bank, saying “over 600,000 women and children die annually in Africa due to lack of access to clean cooking while estimated 1.2 billion women lack access to clean cooking.
“The continued exposure to Carbon Monoxide during cooking leads to very severe air pollution and this is the leading cause of death among women and children.”
The minister said the license award was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the PIA 2021 in full alignment with the Gas Distribution Regulations of 2023.
“By empowering license holders, this initiative opens extensive opportunities across several key sectors: namely – Energy-Intensive Industries, Power Generation, Clean Cooking Initiative and Promote Gas Reticulation.”
He said in order to give access to clean cooking options, President Bola Tinubu’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration programme began in Sept. 2024 with the goal of distributing LPG throughout the six geopolitical zones and 774 LGAs.
“Gas Reticulation replaces gas cylinders as gas is piped to homes and businesses.
“It will accelerate the adoption of CNG mobility as a sustainable fuel alternative in transportation and catalyse investments in pipelines, storage, and other critical infrastructure required to support gas distribution,” he said.
The death toll from the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area has risen to 29.
One person died in hospital over the weekend as a result of the “Palisades’’ fire on the western edge of Los Angeles, the coroner’s office announced on Monday, January 27, 2025.
All residents of the Pacific Palisades district were allowed to enter their properties for the first time on Monday, after the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, announced the move on the X platform.
The Los Angeles Times reported that long-awaited rain and snow had fallen in the mountains.
Meteorologist Ryan Kittell said that while not enough precipitation had fallen to end the fire season, it had “definitely provided a break from fire weather’’.
The authorities had previously warned of flooding in the area because the dry ground could not absorb the water after a long dry spell.
Media reported that several roads were closed at times on Monday due to flooding and mudslides, but fortunately the heaviest rainfall had occurred over the ocean.
The authorities say the Palisades fire is 95 per cent contained, and the Eaton fire, near the city of Pasadena, is 99 per cent contained.
The two fires have destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and devastated an area of more than 150 square kilometres since the beginning of January.
Connecting 300 million Africans to electricity within the next five years is within reach through collaborative effort and commitment to implementation, participants at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, heard on Monday, January 27, 2025.
Delegates at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The summit is organised by the Government of Tanzania and Mission 300, an unprecedented collaboration between the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group and global partners to address Africa’s electricity access gap using new technology and innovative financing.
Nearly 600 million Africans lack electricity, a critical resource for economic development and job creation.
Speaking during the first panel discussion of the opening day of the two-day Summit, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, set the summit’s tone of action and implementation, emphasising practical solutions to achieve the ambitious goal, from regulatory reforms to private sector engagement. He called for active involvement from a wide range of stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral institutions, private sector entities, civil society organisations, and foundations.
“This is mission critical… Our mission here is to say we need everybody… It’s not about us, it’s about those who are not here, and we must listen and hear and make sure this is an action-driven summit… We can’t do Mickey Mouse business… We can’t have a situation where Africa does not have enough electricity,” Adesina told the audience, which included several African energy ministers, international development partners and private sector titans, civil society organisations, and foundations, attending the first day of the summit.
The second day of the summit will see the participation of several heads of state from across Africa, who will join more than 1,500 other participants. Together they will chart Africa’s course toward universal access to energy.
“We have a clear path to reaching these 300 million people,” Dr. Adesina stressed, distinguishing the initiative from previous efforts. He emphasized that the program seeks to transform Africa’s vast potential into reality through comprehensive electrification.
“With power, Africa will not just meet expectations but exceed them, becoming a competitive and prosperous continent,” he added.
Mission 300 will incorporate robust accountability measures, including country-specific monitoring and evaluation systems and the Africa Energy Regulatory Index to track progress. “This is all about accountability, transparency, and delivery while letting Africa develop with pride,” Adesina stated.
Adesina highlighted the devastating toll of traditional cooking methods based on firewood and charcoal, resulting in the death of 600,000 women and children annually due to smoke exposure.
The crisis extends beyond energy access, affecting environmental sustainability through deforestation and biodiversity loss. “It’s not just about energy transition,” Adesina said. “This is about dignity. Africa must develop with dignity and pride, and access to clean cooking solutions is fundamental to achieving this goal.” He praised Tanzania for developing a comprehensive national strategy to address this issue.
World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga, expressed optimism about the initiative, saying its ambitious objectives are achievable through hard work, particularly in ensuring a conducive environment for the private sector to participate. He emphasised the need for predictability of currencies, regulatory frameworks and land acquisition to incentivise investments supporting Mission 300.
In his remarks, Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, called global philanthropists to support the initiative.
“Please join us in getting behind the ideas of this initiative and the country compacts that the leaders will be signing. What is at stake is the future of African economies, the future of African young people, and the future of our world,” he said, adding that his foundation was committing $65 million to the programme.
Speaking after the fireside chat, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, emphasised that energy access is not merely about power delivery, but about what that power will connect and enable.
“It is important that we see food systems at the helm of all of this, and that they are powered by the energy that you will connect,” she stated.
Mohammed explained how energy connectivity would catalyse transformative change in rural communities, particularly for women and youth, through access to digital financial services, online education, and e-commerce opportunities.
However, she stressed that realising these ambitions would require significant financial engineering and private sector engagement. “The private sector has got to lean in, and it won’t lean in if the message is that your finance environment is not conducive to us,” she noted, calling for reforms in credit rating systems and financial architecture.
“When you want to put together the financing for energy it is not easy and it requires many people at the table in parallel with what we are doing, the policy and the regulation, designing these pipelines and getting the money ready,” Mohammed added.
The summit is expected to yield two significant outcomes: the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, outlining commitments and practical actions from African governments to reform the energy sector, and the first set of National Energy Compacts, which will serve as blueprints with country-specific targets and timelines for implementation of critical reforms.
Following the United States’ second withdrawal, Bloomberg Philanthropies and others will ensure the nation’s funding and reporting obligations to the UN Climate Change Secretariat are met
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, has announced that Bloomberg Philanthropies and other U.S. climate funders will ensure the United States meets its global climate obligations following the federal government’s intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time.
Michael Bloomberg
This includes covering the funding gap left by the United States to UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and upholding the country’s reporting commitments.
“From 2017 to 2020, during a period of federal inaction, cities, states, businesses, and the public rose to the challenge to uphold our nation’s commitments—and now, we are ready to do it again,” said Bloomberg, who is also Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
He added: “More and more Americans have had their lives torn apart by climate-fueled disasters, like the destructive fires raging in California. At the same time, the United States is experiencing the economic benefits of clean energy, as costs have fallen, and jobs have grown in both red and blue states. The American people remain determined to continue the fight against the devastating effects of climate change.
“Bloomberg Philanthropies has made significant investments in empowering local leaders, providing businesses with the data to track emissions while driving economic growth, and building coalitions across public and private sectors. Now, philanthropy’s role in driving local, state, and private sector action is more crucial than ever—and we’re committed to leading the way.”
“We deeply appreciate the generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the leadership shown by Mike Bloomberg,” said Simon Stiell, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary. “While government funding remains essential to our mission, contributions like this are vital in enabling the UN Climate Change secretariat to support countries in fulfilling their commitments under the Paris Agreement and a low-emission, resilient, and safer future for everyone.”
This marks the second time Bloomberg has stepped in to help uphold the country’s funding and reporting commitments under the Paris Agreement amid a lack of U.S. federal climate leadership.
In 2017, the U.S. government announced its intention to withdraw from the Agreement – and with it, the country’s obligations to fund, engage with, and report to the UN. In addition to committing to fill the U.S. funding gap, Bloomberg and then-California Governor Jerry Brown launched America’s Pledge – an initiative to close the U.S. reporting gap by annually aggregating and reporting non-federal climate commitments, to ensure the world could track U.S. climate progress as if it were any other nation committed to the Paris Agreement.
Bloomberg also ensured the presence of American climate leadership at UN Climate Conferences by funding U.S. Climate Action pavilions. Beginning at COP23, the Centre showcased the groundswell of support from U.S. cities, states, businesses, and other non-federal organisations and leaders to continue working toward the goals of the Paris Agreement – with or without the federal government present.
That year Bloomberg and Governor Brown delivered the first America’s Pledge report detailing the progress of subnationals in reducing emissions and their potential for higher ambition. Delivered to the UN and international climate community, these analyses detailed how states, cities, businesses, and other non-federal actors drove meaningful emissions reductions and showed that significant progress was possible even without federal support. Support from Bloomberg Philanthropies continued to make up the funding and reporting gaps in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
“Mike Bloomberg’s generous donation ensures the world retains a vital venue for working together on the defining issue of our time, which no country can solve alone or afford to ignore,” said Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, France’s former Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and COP22 UN High-Level Champion for Climate Action. “US philanthropy, along with millions of Americans, cities, and states across the country, is stepping up – recognising the huge benefits of climate action, the necessity to pursue the transition to zero carbon economy and the devastating costs of inaction.”
Research from the University of Maryland’s Centre for Global Sustainability shows that ambitious climate action from cities, states, businesses, and other local U.S. institutions can help the U.S. reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 54-62 percent by 2035, even without federal climate action. This analysis shows how U.S. subnational actors can significantly contribute to and potentially deliver on the U.S. goals under the Paris Agreement.
President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, says the bank and the World Bank Group are committing $40 billion toward the Mission 300 initiative.
Dignitaries at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit
Adesina disclosed this while delivering his welcome remarks tagged “From Ideas to Action to Accelerate Energy Access” at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The goal of the Mission 300 is to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Adesina said the financial commitment to Mission 300 included $18.2 billion from the AfDB and $22 billion from the World Bank, respectively.
According to him, support from other partners is growing, with significant pledges from the Islamic Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund.
He expressed gratitude for the technical and financial contributions of partners like the Rockefeller Foundation.
Adesina, therefore, called on African leaders to seize this moment, adding, “Together, let us decisively use Mission 300 to provide 300 million people in Africa with electricity by 2030.”
He also highlighted AfDB’s complementary Desert to Fire initiative, aimed at delivering 10,000 megawatts of solar power to 11 countries, bringing electricity to an additional 250 million people.
He emphasised that, together, these efforts could transform the continent, providing universal access to electricity for Africa.
According to him, lack of electricity reduces Africa’s Gross Domestic Product by two per cent to four per cent.
He highlighted the progress made under the AfDB’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, launched in 2016, saying, “Since its inception, the share of the African population with access to electricity has risen from 39 per cent in 2015 to 52 per cent in 2024.”
Adesina stated that over 25 million people had gained access to electricity through AfDB’s initiatives.
He lamented that, in spite of these gains, significant challenges remained as 571 million Africans still lived without electricity, constituting 83 per cent of the global population without power.
“Furthermore, over a billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions, with dire consequences for women’s and children’s health.
“We must take decisive actions to further drive down these numbers,” he urged, emphasising the urgency of expanding energy access.”
To address these challenges, he explained that the AfDB and its partners had launched Mission 300, an ambitious goal to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Adesina acknowledged the global coalition behind the initiative, including the African Union Commission, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, and others.
He said, “Mission 300 has grown into a global movement. Together, we are creating a brighter future for millions of Africans.
“This coalition represents an unprecedented alliance of financial and technical resources.”
Adesina called for increased private sector participation and critical reforms, including improved utility performance, renewable energy expansion and transparent licensing processes.
“The private sector must play a pivotal role in expanding both on-grid and off-grid systems to reach rural areas,” he emphasised.
He assured African leaders of AfDB’s support in achieving national energy compacts aligned with the broader goals.
Also, Mr Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, emphasised the significance of collaboration to tackle energy poverty across the continent.
“Over the next decade, 360 million young people in Africa will be ready to enter the workforce, yet the current system will only offer jobs to 150 million of them.
“That leaves three out of every five young people without the opportunity for a job, not just for earning, but for dignity. Forecasts are not destiny; together, we can change this reality,” said Banga.
Reflecting on the collaborative nature of the initiative, Banga acknowledged the contributions of key partners, including the AfDB and philanthropists such as Dr Raj Shah of the Rockefeller Foundation.
He stated, “No one can do this alone. Governments cannot do it alone. Businesses cannot do it alone. Development banks cannot do it alone. But together, we can.
“This effort requires governments as architects of reform and private sector players to bring innovation, efficiency, and scale.”
Outlining the World Bank Group’s commitment, Banga announced that 30 billion dollars to 40 billion dollars would be directed towards Mission 300 over the next six years.
“This effort represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the private sector.
“We are working to eliminate regulatory barriers and create environments where investments can generate returns while delivering meaningful impact. By aligning private capital with public priorities, we can achieve results that none of us could do alone.
“Governments must drive reforms, the private sector must invest with confidence and trust, and development banks must deliver financing while upholding accountability,” the World Bank president added.
He said Mission 300 was not just about powering Africa but empowering its people to achieve their dreams.
Dr Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, explained the critical role of African leadership and global partnerships in achieving energy access for millions across the continent.
Representing both the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, he underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing Africa’s longstanding energy challenges.
Acknowleging the leadership of AfDB and World Bank Group, he said, “I would like to offer a very special thank you to those we seek to help, Akin, Ajay and your extraordinary teams.
“We are only here today because you have made courageous decisions to make extraordinary financial commitments at a time of genuine fiscal need across the continent.”
He noted that African leaders had made remarkable efforts to harness natural resources, develop grids and expand electricity access.
He, however, pointed out that 600 million Africans still lacked basic electricity, while another 500 million did not have reliable, affordable, always-on power, essential for job creation in the global digital economy.
“This is ultimately about creating jobs and allowing for dignity for Africa’s youth entering the labour force,” Shah stressed.
He emphasised the need to replace expensive diesel generators, currently a primary power source for many African small businesses, with affordable, consistent electricity.
“And that is what Mission 300 is all about,” he said.
He addressed scepticism about the initiative’s ambitious goals, acknowledging Africa’s 140-year struggle to achieve widespread electrification.
However, he expressed confidence in the unprecedented scope and leadership behind Mission 300.
“There are three reasons why this initiative will succeed when others have fallen short: first, it is led by you, African leaders. Your compacts, commitments and absolute determination are driving this forward,” he maintained.
Shah reaffirmed the Rockefeller Foundation’s commitment to the Mission 300 partnership, emphasising the transformative potential of collaborative action.
“By working together, we can replace doubt with progress, hope with action, and achieve the dignity and opportunity that every African deserves,” he said.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, says the plan to provide access to affordable energy to 300 million Africans by 2030 is doable.
Sunday Dare
Dare said this while speaking with State House correspondents on the sidelines of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, on Monday, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“Access to affordable energy for 300 million people by 2030 is very ambitious, but it is also doable. And why is that? Because you have several sources beyond hydro; you have solar, wind, and the new green hydrogen.
“And then if you consider the enormous deposits of gas we have, it is time for Africa to come together to give access to affordable power to its people,” said the presidential aide.
He said Mission 300 was supported by donors like the World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, the African Development Bank (AfDB), with funding, which would make it realisable.
According to him, the World Bank and AfDB are supporting the G5 Sahel Solar Power project with funding to the tune of $10 billion.
He said concerted efforts at Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit would dovetail into the financing needed to give access to affordable energy to 300 million people on the continent by 2030.
“Five years looks like really tight, but sometimes when you get the journey started, you can get that journey accelerated, and then you can get to the target.
“Nigeria is leveraging this platform to energise the sector and to show what the president is trying to do. We have the Siemens project that was initiated under the previous administration.
“We’ve seen how President Tunubu has come in with an accelerated phase of the Siemens initiative, moving it from 5,000 megawatts to a higher capacity,” said Dare.
He said Nigeria had a dynamic compact initiative that would help to push the Mission 300 agenda forward.
He said President Tinubu was focused on energy and had said at several times that no country could develop if it lacked the requisite energy.
“Now we’re moving to several other alternative sources, and I think that Nigeria is doing the right thing, and needs international funding and backing. I think this summit will unbundle that,” continued Dare.
He explained that part of the funding would be in the form of grants, soft loans with very low interest rates and capacity building.
“The experience and the capacity that the experts will bring and the training also matters.
“Right now on the top drawer of almost all African countries is the question of energy.
“How do we generate enough energy? And there are three key areas when it comes to energy provision for people in Africa: affordability, accessibility and sustainability,” said Dare.
He said these were also the pillars of the energy policy of President Tinubu.
