Nigeria is taking a prominent role in Africa’s renewable energy drive with an ambitious target to help bring electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, made this known during the first Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy held in Lagos.
He praised President Tinubu’s approval of a \$1 billion fund for the Rural Electrification Agency, with \$750 million earmarked for solar energy projects in underserved areas—an effort expected to benefit over 200,000 Nigerians. Nigeria’s participation in the Mission 300 Initiative, supported by the World Bank and African Development Bank, underscores its commitment to expanding clean and inclusive energy access.
Speaker Abbas highlighted several legislative efforts aimed at boosting renewable energy adoption in Nigeria. These include the removal of VAT on renewable energy and compressed natural gas (CNG) technologies and the establishment of a dedicated House Committee on Renewable Energy.
He also pointed to plans to legally reinforce the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (REEEP) and praised the Electricity Act of 2023, which empowers state governments to regulate electricity within their jurisdictions.
Abbas stressed the importance of collaboration among lawmakers, the executive, private sector, and civil society in achieving Nigeria’s energy goals and ensuring a just energy transition.
Contributions from key stakeholders, including Ghana’s Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), emphasized the urgency of the energy transition across Africa. Ghana’s delegate, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, shared his country’s progress in renewable energy and called for stronger cross-border collaboration.
UNDP’s Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Atafuah, warned that the cost of inaction is too high and encouraged Nigeria to take bold steps to strengthen its position in the global energy space. She reaffirmed UNDP’s support in helping Nigeria build a green, inclusive, and future-focused energy economy.
