World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Ms Anna Bjerde, has revealed that approximately 600 million people in Africa are at risk of enduring persistent power shortages by 2030.
Bjerde revealed this in a statement during an International Development Association (IDA) meeting in Abuja,
She highlighted that the ongoing energy crisis in Africa, exacerbated by the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, poses a significant threat to electricity access across the continent.
Bjerde underscored the importance of addressing the challenge of energy access, stating,
“Despite significant investment and progress, close to 600 million Africans are likely to remain without electricity by 2030.” She acknowledged the efforts of African leaders in prioritizing energy access since 2000, but emphasized the need for accelerated action to achieve universal electricity access.
The World Bank also said it is committed to supporting this effort, with Bjerde announcing the expedited deployment of existing cash transfer systems.
These measures aim to assist over 50 million individuals, equivalent to 10% of the initial population of Nigeria, in navigating the challenges posed by the energy crisis.
Bjerde also highlighted the pivotal role of the World Bank in Africa, especially in Nigeria, emphasizing the critical importance of a robust delivery system to assist vulnerable nations in building resilience to shocks.
Reflecting on lessons learned from COVID-19, she stated, “The investments that you have all carried out to build robust delivery and targeting systems means that more can now be done to help the most vulnerable.”
