The BudgIT Foundation, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and Publish What You Pay (PWYP) are currently developing strategies to ensure electricity access for over 20 million Nigerians.
During a stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja yesterday, titled “Promoting Renewable Energy Adoption in Nigeria,” experts discussed the complexities, challenges, and potential solutions for advancing clean energy in the country.
Waziri Muzamil, the Technical Advisor to the Managing Director of REA, cautioned that without intervention, more than 20 million Nigerians will remain without electricity between 2025 and 2030. He noted that stakeholders have identified a cost-effective model for electrifying all Nigerians, revealing that an estimated $23 billion will be needed by 2030 to close the access gap.
Waziri stated, “By 2030, we could have over 20 million Nigerians without electricity if no action is taken. Currently, at REA, we estimate that $23 billion is required to bridge this gap, which represents the least costly approach to providing electricity to all communities.”
He added, “We already have 20 million Nigerians without electricity, while the population is growing at a rate of 3 percent, compared to energy access, which is increasing by only 1.1 percent. This disparity indicates that population growth is outpacing energy access.”
In a related development, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially launched the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, a significant step towards enhancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion goals. This initiative aims to create frameworks for deploying renewable energy to support the country’s telecom infrastructure.
The inauguration took place at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, led by Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Commission, alongside Abba Abubakar Aliyu, the Managing Director of REA, and other senior executives from both organizations.
In his speech, Maida emphasized that the partnership between NCC and REA is a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities, designed to address the connectivity and power shortages that hinder development in Nigeria’s rural and underserved regions.
He highlighted the importance of reliable and sustainable energy for telecommunications infrastructure, noting that renewable energy solutions also benefit from the growing demand driven by expanding digital services and connected communities.
Maida remarked, “Whether it’s powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform lives and bring opportunities closer to the people.”
