Nigeria is stepping into a continental leadership role in the clean energy revolution with an ambitious plan to help provide electricity to 300 million Africans by the year 2030, according to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday during the opening of the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy, organized by the House Committee on Renewable Energy in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Speaker Abbas said the initiative highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s sustainable development efforts.
He said the move is part of Nigeria’s involvement in the Mission 300 Initiative, a collaborative energy access programme with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
“Through our participation in the Mission 300 Initiative… we are working to provide electricity to three hundred million Africans by 2030,” Abbas said in his keynote address.
The Speaker also hailed President Bola Tinubu’s $1 billion financing approval for the Rural Electrification Agency in December 2024, noting that $750 million has been allocated to solar power expansion in underserved areas, resulting in the deployment of 124 mini-grids and over 25,000 solar home systems.
“These bold investments are game-changers. They show what is possible when policy, financing, and legislation align,” he said.
New Laws, New Direction
Abbas emphasized that the 10th National Assembly has placed energy reform at the heart of its legislative agenda. He pointed to recent bills removing Value Added Tax (VAT) on renewable energy components and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technologies, as well as the creation of a dedicated Standing Committee on Renewable Energy.
He also revealed that work is ongoing to provide legal backing for Nigeria’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (REEEP) of 2015, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost national energy efficiency.
“The urgency to transition to clean energy is no longer optional,” Abbas declared, citing global trends showing that over 92 percent of new power generation in 2024 came from renewables, pushing the world’s total installed renewable capacity to over 4,448 gigawatts.
Calls for Collective Action
Highlighting the need for a unified effort across institutions, Abbas urged lawmakers, the executive, the private sector, and civil society to act in concert. He stressed that successful energy transition demands strong legal frameworks, private investment, public engagement, and inclusive policies.
Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, underscored the urgency, blaming decades of fossil fuel dependence for Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply and sluggish economic growth.
“Our persistent power challenges are more than a technical problem—they’re a barrier to development,” Ogene said.
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He emphasized the importance of the House’s oversight role, revealing ongoing investigations into past renewable energy projects to ensure future transparency and impact.
Regional and Global Support
The conference attracted African lawmakers and international development leaders, including the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, represented by his deputy, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor. He described Nigeria’s leadership as timely, calling on African legislatures to adopt strong, supportive laws to drive clean energy transitions continent-wide.
Ahiafor cited Ghana’s progress with utility-scale solar projects, net metering, and tax incentives. He also reminded attendees that despite Africa’s vast solar potential, over 600 million people still lack access to electricity.
UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Atafuah, declared that Nigeria stands at a turning point in its development journey.
“Nigeria has the people, the resources, and the influence to lead Africa’s energy future. But leadership requires courage, vision, and legislative action,” Atafuah said.
She pledged UNDP’s continued support through policy guidance, technical assistance, financing models, and partnerships.
Looking Ahead
Speaker Abbas reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to its Energy Transition Plan targeting net-zero emissions by 2060 and welcomed the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy launched in March 2025.
He challenged participants to turn the conference discussions into model laws, tangible investments, and actionable strategies.
“Let this conference be remembered not just for the conversations it sparked, but for the change it inspired,” Abbas concluded.
The conference is expected to close with key resolutions shaping Nigeria’s next phase in renewable energy development and legislation.