Bridging Nigeria's Electrification Gap: The Path to Renewable Energy

The Scale of the Challenge

Electricity access remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, according to some reports we are a country where, four in ten people do not have access to electricity. This statistic places Nigeria at the forefront of global energy poverty, with the largest number of people without electricity access in the world. The implications of this are profound, affecting economic opportunities, health, education, and quality of life for millions.To give some context, about 90 million people. 

International Support and Local Initiatives

Recognizing the critical nature of this issue, major international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank have stepped forward. At the recent World Bank/IMF Spring meetings in Washington DC, these institutions pledged substantial support to help close the energy gap in Nigeria and Africa. They committed to providing electricity to 300 million people across Africa, a move that could significantly alter the landscape of energy access on the continent.

For Nigeria, this presents a unique opportunity to leverage international support and its abundant renewable energy resources to address its power shortages. Although some Nigerians, especially in urban settlements are increasingly adopting solar photovoltaic technology for residential use, recent analysis suggest that by 2050, Nigeria could generate 59% of its energy needs from renewable sources, predominantly solar power.

Strategic National Plans

To capitalize on this potential, the Nigerian government has laid out several strategic frameworks. Here are a few:

1. The Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP): Initially formulated in 2006 and updated in 2011, the REMP aims to boost renewable electricity's share to 23% by 2025 and 36% by 2030. Despite these ambitious goals, as of 2022, renewable energy's share stood at 16.4%, according to Statista.

2. Climate Plan (2017): This plan sets an even more ambitious goal to install 13,000MW of solar capacity by 2030. As of 2022, progress has been modest but promising, with an installed capacity of about 37MW, including a recent 20MW addition flagged of in March 2024 as part of a larger 300MW project managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and North South Power (NSP) Company LTD.

3. COVID-19 Recovery Plan (2020): This plan outlines a strategy to deliver solar power to five million households by 2030 while creating 250,000 jobs, signaling a significant push towards integrating solar energy into Nigeria’s national grid.

The Road Ahead

The path forward for Nigeria involves not only increasing the capacity of solar power installations but also ensuring that these solutions reach rural and grassroots communities where the need is greatest. The government's existing plans and the new initiatives supported by international finance offer a robust framework for achieving these goals.

However, the success of these initiatives will depend on sustained commitment, efficient implementation, and robust financing mechanisms. With 2030 set as a milestone year, the coming decade will be crucial. If Nigeria can stay the course, it has the potential to transform its energy landscape, reduce carbon emissions significantly, and improve the lives of millions of its citizens through enhanced access to clean, reliable, and affordable electricity.

Written by Leslie B. Dongh