THE BORDER COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (BCDA) PARTNERS WITH THE GERMAN EMBASSY AND GIZ ON THE PROVISION OF SOLAR POWERED UTILITY MINI GRIDS AS OFF-GRID POWER SOLUTION FOR NIGERIAN BORDER COMMUNITIES.

The Executive Secretary Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) Dr. George D.A. Kelly FNIQS and his Management Team held a meeting with the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Johannes Lehne today 6th March, 2025 at the German Embassy in Abuja.
Dr. Kelly, during the meeting formally briefed the German Ambassador of the mandate of the Agency which is to provide the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the people living in the border communities in Nigeria who are located in over 3,000 communities, in 105 Local Government Areas, across 21 states that have been historically underserved despite their strategic importance to the nation.
The Executive Secretary emphasized BCDA’s commitment to “going green” by prioritizing renewable energy projects, particularly solar energy, as parts of its action plan. He revealed that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, had approved a substantial budget for the Agency for the 2025 fiscal year to execute transformative projects in border communities in line with “The Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Dr. Kelly highlighted the Agency’s focus on key areas such as water provision, food security, sanitization and solar energy projects. He also requested the German Embassy’s assistance in connecting BCDA with established German companies specializing in clean energy technologies to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives.
H.E. Ambassador Johannes Lehne expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, describing it as mutually beneficial. He assured Dr. Kelly and the BCDA delegation of the Embassy’s readiness to introduce the Agency to reputable German energy companies with expertise in clean energy solutions. The Agency will also have the opportunity to physically visit the companies and exchange technical solutions tailored to meet the Agency’s needs and requirements.
The Ambassador also highlighted on the Nigeria Energy Support programme (NESP), a German GIZ funded initiative that supports the construction of mini-grids and solar-powered systems to provide clean and affordable energy to rural communities. He suggested that BCDA could be integrated into the program to extend its benefits to Nigeria’s border regions, ensuring that residents gain access to sustainable energy.
The Executive Secretary also presented the BCDA Strategic Action Plan (SAP) to Ambassador Lehne. The SAP outlines BCDA actionable projects, with strong emphasis on renewable energy, water provision, food security, capacity building and sanitation. The plan reflects the Agency’s dedication to addressing the unique challenges faced by the border communities in Nigeria while promoting sustainable development.
In conclusion, the partnership between BCDA and the German Embassy represents a significant step towards achieving energy security, capacity building and sustainable development in Nigeria’s border regions, while fostering international collaboration.