The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) has called for increased investment and stronger public-private collaboration to unlock Nigeria’s vast renewable energy potential, saying sustained support for the sector is critical to expanding electricity access and accelerating the country’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
The appeal was made at the maiden Solar & Storage Live Nigeria Conference in Lagos, where policymakers, investors, manufacturers, technology providers and renewable energy developers gathered to chart a new course for Nigeria’s clean energy future.
Speaking at the conference, REAN President and Chief Executive Officer of A4&T Power Solutions, Ayo Ademilua, described the event as the largest renewable energy gathering in Nigeria this year, saying it was designed to connect local industry players with leading global manufacturers, investors and technology providers.
According to him, the conference marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s renewable energy industry, as it is the first time the internationally recognised Solar & Storage Live event, which has been hosted in South Africa for over 15 years, is being held in West Africa.
Ademilua said Nigeria possesses enormous renewable energy rely underutilised despite the country’s persistent electricity challenges
He stressed that attracting greater investment into the sector would not only improve electricity supply but also diversify Nigeria’s energy mix, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Rejecting claims that renewable energy is too expensive, Ademilua argued that rapid technological advancements and increased global production have drastically reduced the cost of solar technologies over the past decade.
“Renewable energy should not be viewed from the perspective of initial cost alone. When you invest in renewable energy, you are investing in assets that serve you for many years, unlike fossil fuels where you continue to spend on fuel,” he said.
He noted that as manufacturing scales up globally, renewable energy technologies are becoming increasingly affordable and more competitive than conventional fossil fuel systems over the long term.
Also addressing participants, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, declared that Nigeria’s renewable energy sector is entering a new phase driven by artificial intelligence, battery storage technologies and growing private sector participation.
Aliyu disclosed that the agency has deployed AI-powered planning and monitoring systems to map more than 750,000 communities nationwide, enabling government to determine the most appropriate electrification solution for each location, whether through mini-grids, solar home systems or conventional grid extension.
He added that the REA is also introducing AI-enabled smart meters and central monitoring platforms to improve the performance, transparency and accountability of mini-grid projects across the country.
Describing battery storage as the next major investment frontier in Nigeria’s power sector, Aliyu urged investors to position themselves for emerging opportunities as renewable energy deployment gathers momentum.
He said intervention programmes such as the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) initiative and the forthcoming Desert to Power Programme have been structured to reduce investment risks and attract substantial private capital into Nigeria’s renewable energy market.
The REA boss further revealed that ongoing collaboration with state governments has resulted in faster land acquisition processes, improved policy coordination and stronger investment promotion efforts aimed at accelerating renewable energy projects nationwide.
The conference also featured high-level panel discussions involving regulators, electricity distribution companies, legal experts and renewable energy developers, who examined policy and regulatory reforms needed to unlock embedded generation, captive power, mini-grids and battery storage solutions.
Stakeholders agreed that deeper investments, enabling policies and sustained collaboration would be essential for Nigeria to bridge its electricity access gap, strengthen energy security and achieve its clean energy ambitions.
