Nigeria is pushing an ambitious long-term energy transformation plan that aims to significantly scale up electricity generation capacity, targeting about 209,000 megawatts by 2050, with solar energy expected to play a central role in the transition.
According to industry reporting, the country currently has 53 large-scale solar projects valued at around $11 billion underway. These projects are part of a wider pipeline of renewable energy investments designed to improve electricity supply and expand access, especially in underserved and rural areas.
A major component of this push is being driven by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), which is implementing over 1,300 solar mini-grid and off-grid systems nationwide. These include about 250 interconnected mini-grids that can feed power into the national grid, helping to improve stability and reduce dependence on diesel generators.
The initiative is supported by $750 million in public funding and is expected to attract an additional $1.1 billion in private investment. Officials say the programme is designed to accelerate clean energy adoption and expand electricity access to millions of Nigerians in the coming years.
The REA leadership described the project as one of the largest publicly funded renewable electricity programmes globally, noting that it could help deliver power to an estimated 17.5 million people within three years. The broader goal is to position the country as a major renewable energy hub in Africa.
Progress has already been recorded, with over 1,000 mini-grid systems installed and more than 800 megawatts of solar capacity added recently, bringing total installed solar generation to just over 1,000 megawatts.
Nigeria’s renewable energy push also aligns with continental initiatives aimed at expanding electricity access across Africa, with millions already connected through ongoing programmes backed by global partners.
While gas remains the dominant source of electricity in the country, renewables now account for a growing share of the energy mix, and the government has set long-term targets of 30% renewable contribution by 2030 and much higher by 2050 as part of its net-zero plans.
