Nigeria Backs Mission 300 to Deliver Power to 300m Africans by 2030
BY SAMUEL MOBOLAJI
Nigeria has joined other African nations in endorsing far-reaching reforms under Mission 300, an ambitious initiative led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
The plan, which was unveiled at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, relies on National Energy Compacts, country-specific blueprints designed to guide public spending, attract private capital, and enforce reforms. Since its launch, Mission 300 has already connected 30 million people, with over 100 million in the pipeline.
Nigeria, together with countries such as Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia, has pledged to implement more than 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and eliminate bottlenecks slowing electricity expansion.
World Bank President Ajay Banga said the initiative represents more than targets, describing it as “enduring reforms that slash costs, strengthen utilities, and draw in private investment.”
He noted that power remains the foundation of jobs, economic growth and opportunity.
AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah added that reliable, affordable power is the fastest multiplier for Africa’s economy, pointing out that access to energy will drive small and medium enterprises, agro-processing, industrialisation and digital work. “Give a young entrepreneur power, and you’ve given them a paycheck,” he said.
The Mission 300 programme is being supported by global development partners ,including the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) trust fund.
By integrating infrastructure, financing, and policy measures, Mission 300 seeks to position Africa on a path of inclusive and sustainable growth, with Nigeria expected to play a pivotal role in deepening electricity access for its citizens while contributing to the continental target of 300 million people by 2030.
