- In the past 18 years, the Federal Ministry of Environment has installed over 2,000 solar-powered streetlights and 30 solar-powered boreholes across Nigeria to promote renewable energy.
- Minister Balarabe Lawal emphasized the need for collaboration with the private sector to drive renewable energy projects and attract investment to Nigeria’s clean energy sector.
The Federal Ministry of Environment has highlighted its efforts to promote renewable energy in Nigeria, noting the installation of 30 solar-powered boreholes and 30 solar streetlights over the past 18 years. Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal announced this on November 28, 2024, during a stakeholders’ forum on renewable energy investment in Abuja.
The ministry introduced the Renewable Energy Master Plan in 2006 with support from the UNDP, outlining Nigeria’s commitment to increasing renewable energy generation and fostering an investment-friendly environment. While the policy aimed to address the country’s growing electricity needs, improve grid reliability, and enhance sustainable development, progress has been limited over the past 18 years.
According to Lawal, the ministry has installed approximately 2,000 solar-powered streetlights and over 30 solar-powered boreholes across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, supported by federal government funding. These projects have helped reduce reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and introduce clean energy solutions to provide water supply and enhance livelihoods in off-grid communities.
Earlier this year, the ministry also launched the National Clean Cooking Policy, which aims to improve public health by promoting clean cooking technologies to reduce the harmful effects of traditional cooking methods. This policy is expected to contribute to environmental sustainability by cutting deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing energy access, affordability, and gender equality.
Lawal emphasised that achieving substantial progress in renewable energy generation requires collaboration from all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, academia, and international partners. He called on the private sector to use its expertise, technology, and investment capacity to drive renewable energy projects, develop financing models, and support local manufacturing and job creation.
The minister further stated that the government is focused on creating a conducive investment climate through initiatives like the Renewable Energy Investment Framework and the Network of Financial Institutions for Clean Energy Technology and Entrepreneurship (NFI-CETE). These efforts aim to attract domestic and foreign investments into renewable energy and streamline regulatory processes to ensure efficient project implementation.