In a groundbreaking move to bridge Nigeria’s rural connectivity and electrification gap, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has entered into a strategic partnership with TSAT Telecommunication Company Limited to bring advanced satellite-powered infrastructure to off-grid communities.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja, will integrate satellite technology into rural electrification projects, ensuring that even the most remote communities gain access to reliable electricity and broadband connectivity.
REA’s Managing Director and CEO, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and TSAT’s Chairman/CEO, Abba Sani Abdullahi, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Aliyu emphasized the transformative potential of the collaboration. “Access to power and communication are twin pillars of modern development. Through this partnership with TSAT, we’re not just lighting up communities — we’re connecting them to the world,” he said. Aliyu added that satellite-backed connectivity will enhance the monitoring of off-grid projects, improve efficiency, and open new opportunities in education, healthcare, and local businesses.
TSAT’s Abdullahi described the MoU as a milestone for Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion agenda. “Our mission is to connect the unconnected. With our cutting-edge satellite network, we can provide reliable voice, data, and broadband services to even the most remote corners of Nigeria. Partnering with REA means electricity and communication reach rural communities together — transforming lives and creating limitless possibilities,” he said.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who praised the collaboration as aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “Nigeria’s development story will be incomplete without digital and energy inclusion. The REA–TSAT partnership shows how government and private sector innovation can unlock prosperity for millions,” Adelabu said.
TSAT’s advanced mobile satellite network, which spans two-thirds of the globe using MSS, VSAT, and GSM roaming technologies, will complement REA’s mini-grid and solar home system projects. This will enable communities previously isolated by geography to access clean power, internet connectivity, and modern communication tools, fostering commerce, education, and emergency response capabilities.
Industry experts predict that the REA–TSAT partnership could become a blueprint for integrating energy and digital infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa, potentially transforming rural economies and closing the urban–rural development divide.