America or India: Identifying a Suitable Off-Grid Rural Electrification Model for Nigeria.

Abstract

Most Nigerian living in the rural areas lack access to electricity due to lack of connectivity to the
national grid network. The national grid expansion strategy to rural areas has not yielded much
result due to financing and centralised approach. Off-grid electricity is considered more suitable
for rapid electrification of rural areas. This paper examined the American and Indian approach
to rural electrification and derived suitable lessons for Nigeria. While America ensured a robust
national grid network to service rural areas, India adopted the renewable energy based off-grid
options, thereby becoming the fastest developing country in rural electrification.