Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has unveiled a bold plan to significantly increase Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity, with an ambitious target of 9,000 Megawatts (MW) by 2030.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat energy poverty and enhance the country’s power infrastructure.
The announcement was made by Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, at the opening of a summit on the accelerated scaling up of renewable and distributed energy resources in Nigeria.
The event, organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to address longstanding power supply challenges.
In his address, Chief Adelabu emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the persistent issues of unreliable grid supply, frequent power outages, and load shedding that have plagued Nigerians for decades.
These issues, he noted, have severely impacted businesses, industries, and households, hindering economic productivity and deterring foreign investment.
“It is disheartening that for decades, Nigerians have been grappling with the challenges of unreliable grid supply,” Adelabu said. “The lack of grid reliability has hampered economic productivity and deterred foreign investment, thereby exacerbating unemployment and economic stagnation. We are determined to end that!”
The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to improving power supply through renewable energy, outlining several key programs designed to enhance the sector.
Among these is the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), supported technically by the European Union (EU) and the German government.
This initiative aims to deploy 23 mini-grids across 11 states, serving over 138,000 Nigerians and facilitating greater access to reliable power in underserved areas.
Engr. Sanusi Garba, Chairman of NERC, echoed the government’s commitment, noting that scaling up renewable energy would be pivotal in connecting rural communities to modern electricity sources.
“The push to scale up renewable energy supply will ensure that rural communities are quickly connected to modern sources of electricity,” Garba stated.
The European Union has played a crucial role in supporting Nigeria’s renewable energy goals. Godfrey Ogbemudia, representing the EU Delegation in Nigeria, detailed the organization’s substantial financial contributions to the sector.
Since 2008, the EU has invested approximately 200 million Euros in various power sector programs, focusing on policy development, regulatory frameworks, and capacity building.
Between 2021 and 2027, the EU plans to invest an additional 100 million Euros to provide 400 MW from renewable sources, aiming to benefit around five million Nigerians and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 500,000 tonnes.
“The EU has partnered with Nigeria in promoting the adoption of renewable energy in its energy system since 2008,” Ogbemudia said.
“We are committed to further enhancing our support through innovative financing, technical assistance, and energy infrastructure projects. This investment will translate into 400 MW of new renewable energy capacity by 2027, benefiting over five million Nigerians.”
The Federal Government’s renewed focus on renewable energy reflects a broader commitment to resolving Nigeria’s energy crisis and fostering sustainable development.
With substantial investments from both domestic and international partners, Nigeria aims to overcome its power supply challenges and build a more resilient and equitable energy system for the future.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
