The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has said that Nigeria is playing a major role in the effort to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by the year 2030. He stated this on Monday while delivering a keynote speech at the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy. The event was held in Lagos and was organised by the House Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Hon. Afam Ogene, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Speaker Abbas, Nigeria is a key player in the “Mission 300” initiative, a joint effort by the World Bank and African Development Bank, aimed at bringing electricity to 300 million people in Africa by the end of the decade. He said Nigeria’s participation shows the country’s leadership and commitment to solving energy poverty across the continent.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a $1 billion financing package for the Rural Electrification Agency in December 2024. Out of this amount, $750 million is meant to expand access to solar power in communities that are not connected to the national grid. The funding will be used to set up 124 mini-grids and install over 25,000 solar home systems. More than 200,000 Nigerians are expected to benefit from this initiative.
Speaker Abbas said this level of investment shows what can be achieved when government policies, financing, and legislation are aligned to support clean energy goals. He said the transition to renewable energy is no longer a matter of choice, but a necessity. He pointed to recent global trends, saying that in 2024, renewable energy sources like solar and wind made up over 92 percent of all new electricity generation around the world. He added that the world’s total installed renewable energy capacity grew by 15 percent to reach 4,448 gigawatts.
He also highlighted that $1.7 trillion out of the $2.8 trillion invested globally in energy in 2023 was spent on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles. He said this shows the world is moving away from fossil fuels, and Nigeria must not be left behind.
Abbas said the House of Representatives is already taking legislative steps to support the shift to clean energy. He mentioned the recent passage of new tax reform bills that remove Value Added Tax (VAT) from renewable energy equipment and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technology. He explained that this move will help attract private investment and make clean energy more affordable for Nigerians.
He also said the House is working to give legal backing to the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy, which was first introduced in 2015. The goal of the policy is to increase the use of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote energy efficiency across Nigeria.
The Speaker stressed that Nigeria remains committed to its Energy Transition Plan, which aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2060. He also welcomed the launch of the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy in March 2025. This new policy is expected to help Nigeria attract climate finance and make renewable energy projects more viable.
Hon. Afam Ogene, who chairs the House Committee on Renewable Energy, also called for urgent action. He said that despite Nigeria’s large oil and gas reserves, the country has not been able to provide steady electricity to its citizens. He said the power supply problem is not just a technical matter but a major obstacle to economic development.
Ogene said Nigeria must adopt renewable energy not just for power generation, but also to create jobs, especially for young people. He said every solar panel installed is a chance for someone to get a job or learn a new skill.
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who was also present, said the conference shows how serious the energy problem is across Africa. He said the event is a call to action for lawmakers, investors, communities, and innovators to work together to build a better energy future for the continent.
