- Speaker Abbas calls for accountability of over $2 billion in renewable energy investments, citing continued power instability.
- Lawmakers emphasise transparency and demand better funds management to avoid burdening future generations with debt.
- Renewable energy advocates urge faster reforms, a dedicated Renewable Energy Act, and increased investment in emerging technologies.
Despite attracting billions of dollars in renewable energy investments since 2015, Nigeria still struggles to provide stable electricity, says Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
At a public hearing on Tuesday, November 5, Abbas, represented by Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe), pointed out that the country received significant funds to boost renewable energy. Yet, millions of Nigerians still deal with unreliable power.
“Since 2015, billions have flowed into renewable energy to transform our energy sector, cut fossil fuel use, and solve electricity problems. But stable power remains elusive,” Abbas noted.
He highlighted recent blackouts in Northern Nigeria, where outages persisted long without clear explanation or accountability from power authorities.
“This situation mirrors the daily struggles of Nigerians living without enough power. Today’s hearing aims to uncover why these investments haven’t improved things,” Abbas added.
He stressed that the hearing sought solutions, not blame, as lawmakers try to fix gaps in the renewable energy sector.
The House Committee on Renewable Energy chairman, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, reiterated that the investigation intends to boost transparency and ensure proper management of public funds.
Ogene warned that Nigeria would eventually repay these investments from multilateral organisations. He cautioned against mismanaging these funds, which would burden future generations.
“Every investment, especially those from international lenders, comes with a debt that must be repaid. If we misuse these resources, we are handing down debt to future Nigerians,” Ogene said.
He criticized Nigeria’s 2015 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NEP) for failing to produce significant results. Ogene called for a separate Nigeria Renewable Energy Act to strengthen the regulatory framework for renewable energy.
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (EEA) backed the investigation, emphasising its potential to reshape the sector. Prof. Magnus Onuoha, President of the REA Governing Council, expressed optimism about the committee’s work.
“The committee and this hearing can change the story of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector,” Onuoha stated.
He pushed for the quick passage of the Nigeria Renewable Energy Act and called on lawmakers to collaborate with all 36 states to implement integrated electricity solutions. Onuoha also urged local developers to lead state renewable energy projects more significantly.
Additionally, he called for more investment in emerging technologies like green hydrogen and e-mobility, emphasising that these sectors would accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition and create jobs.
This hearing marks a crucial effort to tackle Nigeria’s renewable energy challenges. Lawmakers aim to ensure the $2 billion investments deliver real electricity access and infrastructure improvements.