All On releases progress reports on Akeddei Solar Hybrid Minigrid Project

Residents of Akeddei community in Bayelsa State are witnessing a growing wave of optimism as work progresses on a solar hybrid minigrid project expected to deliver reliable electricity to the area.

The project, funded through a $532,828 grant awarded by All On to Darway Coast Ltd, involves the development of a 195kWp solar hybrid minigrid. In recent months, visible construction activities, equipment installations, and the training of local workers have signalled steady progress, raising hopes that long-awaited stable power supply is within reach.

For many residents, expectations are shaped by the success recorded in nearby Oweikorogha, where All On completed the first phase of its Niger Delta Electrification Project. The 80kWp hybrid minigrid in that community exceeded its initial target of 430 connections by powering 451 homes and businesses, leading to immediate improvements in daily life.

Businesses in Oweikorogha extended operating hours, households reduced reliance on costly generators, and essential services such as schools and health centres experienced more reliable power supply. Akeddei residents are now looking forward to similar transformation.

As the second phase of the initiative, the Akeddei project is designed to operate at a larger scale, with an estimated 1,058 connections, focusing significantly on productive-use customers such as small businesses, artisans, and service providers.

Beyond infrastructure, the project has already begun to create local impact. Youths in the community have been engaged in construction and site preparation, while Darway Coast Ltd has initiated training for community-based operators who will manage technical and administrative operations once the minigrid becomes functional.

Residents say the anticipated benefits go far beyond employment. Fishermen are considering cold storage options to preserve their catch, traders are planning to power freezers and lighting systems, and students are looking forward to studying at night without the noise and fumes of generators. Health workers also expect improved capacity to store vaccines and operate essential medical equipment.

Speaking on the broader impact of the initiative, Toun Odetola, Communications Lead at All On, said the project is aimed at more than just infrastructure delivery.

“The aim of this project, like All On’s many other grants and investments, is about much more than installing infrastructure, but about creating meaningful energy connections that enable socio-economic growth, reduce dependence on more expensive energy alternatives, and strengthen livelihoods in underserved communities across the Niger Delta,” she said.

On its part, Darway Coast Ltd reaffirmed its commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ureh, expressed confidence in the project’s long-term benefits.

“As a company, we are committed to delivering affordable, reliable electricity that drives economic growth while safeguarding the interests of our customers and partners. We are confident that the beneficiaries in Akeddei will experience meaningful and measurable improvements in their quality of life, unlocking broader economic opportunities for the community,” he said.

With commissioning expected in the second quarter of 2026, residents say their optimism is grounded in tangible progress already made on-site and the proven success of similar interventions in neighbouring communities.

All On Partnerships for Energy Access, an independent impact investing company seeded by Shell, continues to support Nigerian energy firms through funding and technical assistance aimed at closing the country’s energy access gap.

For Akeddei, the solar minigrid project represents more than a power solution—it signals a pathway to economic growth, improved living standards, and a future powered by clean, reliable energy.