News
World Bank Provides $465M for Energy Expansion in West Africa
The World Bank Group is extending $465 million to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expand access to grid electricity to over 1 million people.
The fund will help the subregion enhance power system stability for another 3.5 million people, and increase renewable energy integration in the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).
The new Regional Electricity Access and Battery-Energy Storage Technologies (BEST) Project -approved by the World Bank Group for a total amount of $465 million- will increase grid connections in fragile areas of the Sahel, build the capacity of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), and strengthen the WAPP’s network operation with battery-energy storage technologies infrastructure.
This is a pioneering move that makes way for increased renewable energy generation, transmission, and investment across the region.
‘West Africa is on the cusp of a regional power market that promises significant development benefits and potential for private sector participation,’ stated Charles Cormier, Practice Manager in the Energy Global Practice at the World Bank.
‘Bringing electricity to more households and businesses, improving reliability, and harnessing the region’s substantial renewable energy resources-day or night-will help accelerate West Africa’s economic and social transformation.’
Over the past decade, the World Bank has financed close to $2.3 billion of investments in infrastructure and reforms in support of WAPP, considered the key to achieving universal access to electricity by 2030 in the 15 ECOWAS countries.
This new project builds on progress and will finance civil works to accelerate access in Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
In Mauritania, rural electrification will be expanded through grid densification of existing substations, which will enable the electrification of Boghe, Kaedi and Selibaby, and neighboring villages along the Southern border with Senegal.
Communities in Niger’s River and Central East regions that live near Niger-Nigeria interconnector will also gain grid access, as will communities around substations in Senegal’s Casamance area.
Connection charges will be partially subsidized, which will help keep costs down for the estimated 1 million people expected to benefit.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and eventually Mali, the project will finance BEST equipment to improve the stability of the regional electricity network by increasing the energy reserve in these countries and facilitating integration of variable renewable energy.
Battery-energy storage technologies will enable WAPP operators to store renewable energy generated at non-peak hours and dispatch it during peak demand, instead of relying on more carbon-intensive generation technology when the demand is high, the sun is not shining, or the wind is not blowing.
It is expected that the BEST will further spur private sector participation in the region by supporting the market for renewable energy, as the battery-energy storage capacity installed under this project will be able to accommodate the 793 MW of new solar power capacity that WAPP plans to develop in the three countries.
‘These ambitious results will be achieved through a regional approach,’ said Ms. Deborah Wetzel, World Bank Director of Regional Integration for Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Africa.
‘By working together, these countries can optimize investments and economies of scale, harmonize equipment and standards, and synchronize systems to deliver the transformative power of electricity to more people and usher in a new era of low-carbon energy trade.’
The World Bank’s International Development Association, IDA, established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.
The IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries.
Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa.
By Oluwole Alao
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has pledged the Agency’s full support for the Corporate Affairs Commission’s (CAC) artificial intelligence–driven transformation as the Commission marked its 35th anniversary in Abuja.
Delivering a goodwill message at the celebration, which was held at the Ladi Kwali hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, Inuwa commended CAC for its uncommon consistency and resilience, noting that while many organisations rise and fall after initial success, CAC has continued on a steady growth trajectory.
“We know organisations go up and come down, but some will keep thriving, thriving, and thriving, and today, this is what we are witnessing for CAC,” he said.
Reflecting on his early engagement with the Commission, the NITDA boss recalled that the Registrar General made organisational transformation a priority from the very start of his leadership, particularly in embracing digital innovation.
According to Inuwa, the current era demands more than basic digitisation, stressing that meaningful transformation can only be achieved through the integration of artificial intelligence into core operations.
“We are in the AI era, and the only way to transform today is to embrace and integrate AI into your operations. This is exactly what the Registrar General is doing,” he stated.
He assured CAC of NITDA’s commitment to working closely with the Commission to embed AI across its numerous processes, explaining that the technology would infuse intelligence into workflows, simplify company registration and business management, and strengthen cybersecurity.
“We will make sure you integrate AI into CAC processes. With AI, it will infuse intelligence in everything you do and make things easy for Nigerians to register companies and manage businesses,” Inuwa averred.
The NITDA DG added that deploying advanced AI tools would help CAC staff stay ahead of fraudsters and curb hacking and fraudulent alterations of company records, while also safeguarding the system through responsible deployment.
“At NITDA, we will make sure you deploy ethical and responsible AI in your operations, with the right guardrails in place,” he assured.
He further described CAC’s digital reforms as bold and impactful, noting that the Commission has reduced company registration timelines from several months to as little as 24 hours. He added that further integration of AI would enhance name search and reservation, automate filings, improve corporate governance, and significantly reduce fraud.
He also highlighted NITDA’s ongoing role in reviewing CAC’s digital and AI transformation roadmaps, providing guidelines, standards, training support, and safeguards to ensure sustainable, people-centred, and secure digital services.
The NITDA DG congratulated CAC management, staff, and members of the National Assembly for their support, expressing confidence that the partnership would further strengthen Nigeria’s digital business environment in the years ahead.
The United States has warned Nigerians that overstaying their visas could jeopardise travel opportunities for other citizens seeking to visit the US for education, business, or family purposes.
The warning came amid ongoing immigration crackdowns and tighter travel restrictions under the administration of President Donald Trump.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Feb. 9, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stressed that compliance with visa rules is essential to protecting access for Nigerians who travel responsibly.
“Visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens,” the Mission said. “Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travellers and families who travel responsibly.”
The Mission also urged Nigerians to report cases of visa fraud to [email protected] or [email protected]
Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has urged creation of a unified national beneficial ownership register to bolster anti-corruption efforts and corporate transparency.
CAC
CAC Registrar-General highlighted how fragmented sectoral registers breed duplication, inconsistencies, and regulatory gaps during the Commission’s 35th anniversary Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, via representative Demola Bakare, praised CAC’s role in fostering accountable business environments that drive sustainable growth.
Global evidence links transparent institutions to stronger economies, with clear rules, accessible data, and open operations as key pillars.
CAC’s oversight on company registration, disclosure, and compliance directly builds investor trust and national integrity, closing avenues for illicit financial flows.
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