REEEA-A Seeks Stronger Partnerships, Investment To Expand Clean Energy Access

Players in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector have called for stronger partnerships, increased investment and coordinated action to accelerate clean and affordable energy access across the country.

The call was made at the fifth International Conference of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations-Alliance (REEEA-A), held in Lagos on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

The conference, themed “Accelerating Collective Action and Strategic Partnerships for Equitable Clean Energy Access,” brought together government officials, investors, development partners, researchers and energy professionals.

Stakeholders at the conference said Nigeria must move beyond policy discussions and focus on practical implementation, arguing that the country’s energy challenges required collaboration across government, the private sector, financial institutions, academia and communities.

The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Ayodeji Dada, said the complexity of Nigeria’s energy challenges made it impossible for any single institution or sector to address them alone.

He said government had a responsibility to create effective policies and regulatory frameworks, while private-sector operators should provide innovation, investment and practical solutions.

According to Dada, financial institutions must also develop financing instruments capable of addressing the risks associated with emerging clean-energy markets, while universities and research institutions should develop technologies suited to Nigeria’s local needs.

He further called for greater participation of women, young people and underserved communities in the energy transition.

“We must move from conversation to collaboration, from collaboration to implementation, and from implementation to measurable impact,” Dada said.

He said REEEA-A would deepen its engagement with governments, development partners, investors, industry players, academia, civil society and the media to promote knowledge exchange, capacity development and regional cooperation.

The outgoing Chairman of REEEA-A, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, also urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, saying the conference provided an opportunity to develop practical strategies for expanding renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of REEEA-A, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, said stronger partnerships were essential to addressing Nigeria’s energy deficit, stressing that energy was fundamental to economic development, job creation, healthcare, education and improved living standards.

“Yet, millions of Nigerians still lack reliable and affordable access to modern energy services.

“Energy is too large for any single institution, sector or stakeholder to solve alone. It demands concerted action,” he said.

Sambo said government should provide appropriate policies, regulations and investment frameworks, while private-sector operators should provide capital, innovation and efficient business models.

He also called on tertiary institutions to contribute through research and innovation, while development partners should support financing, technical assistance and capacity building.

The BOT chairman stressed that affordability and inclusion must remain at the centre of Nigeria’s clean-energy transition.

“Clean energy should not be a privilege for those who can afford it. We must develop solutions that reach rural communities, small businesses, women, young people and underserved populations,” he said.

Sambo also highlighted energy efficiency as a critical part of the transition, saying reducing energy waste could lower costs, improve productivity and reduce pressure on existing infrastructure.

“The cheapest energy is often the energy we do not waste,” he said.

He challenged REEEA-A and other stakeholders to work with government and development partners towards achieving 178,000 megawatts of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2050, a target contained in the Renewable Energy Roadmap for Nigeria developed by the Energy Commission of Nigeria and the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Sambo said Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources provided an opportunity to achieve the target if stakeholders worked together.

He urged REEEA-A to collaborate with the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Energy Commission of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Power to develop clear plans for expanding renewable electricity generation and track the contributions of companies and organisations towards national targets.

He also called for increased local manufacturing of renewable energy components, particularly solar equipment, saying domestic production could reduce costs, create jobs and lower dependence on imports.

To attract more capital into the sector, Sambo proposed innovative financing mechanisms and cited South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme as a model Nigeria could consider.

He also called for stronger testing and quality-control systems to prevent counterfeit and substandard renewable energy products from entering the Nigerian market.

Sambo urged power aggregators and private operators to strengthen partnerships with state governments to expand electricity generation and distribution, noting that the constitutional amendment allowing states to participate more actively in the electricity market had created new opportunities for investment.

He said about 17 states had already taken steps towards participating in the electricity market.

The BOT chairman further called for a national renewable energy and power development plan, as well as greater investment in specialised manpower and capacity building to support Nigeria’s energy transition.

Sambo also stressed the need to distinguish between electricity access and electricity availability, noting that connecting consumers to the grid did not necessarily guarantee adequate power for productive use.

He said Nigeria’s average electricity consumption stood at about 180 kilowatt-hours per capita annually, compared with African and global averages of approximately 600 kWh and 3,600 kWh, respectively.

According to him, the figures highlight the scale of Nigeria’s electricity deficit and the urgent need to expand generation, transmission and distribution capacity.

The conference came amid broader efforts to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of Nigeria’s electricity market. The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) have been seeking stronger collaboration to improve market operations and create a more efficient, transparent and investor-friendly electricity market.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, said the two agencies had complementary responsibilities in making the electricity market more efficient and attractive to investors.

He said NISO remained open to working with NBET and other stakeholders to address liquidity challenges and support stable and reliable electricity supply.

Sambo commended development partners, particularly GIZ, for supporting the conference and expressed confidence that stronger collaboration among stakeholders would help build a cleaner, more reliable, affordable and inclusive energy future for Nigeria.