The Nigerian federal government plans to make solar energy accessible and affordable for all citizens by next year, as announced by Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, the Director-General/CEO of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, during an interview with BBC Hausa. He stressed the need to increase the country’s energy generation capacity significantly to overcome persistent power challenges, stating that Nigeria requires 40,000 megawatts for stable electricity supply, while only 12,000 megawatts are currently installed, with just 5,000 megawatts available to the public.
To address these issues, the government has launched a national energy master plan aimed at closing the energy gap and ensuring reliable power for all Nigerians. A crucial element of this initiative is the establishment of a facility for manufacturing solar panels and batteries to make solar energy more affordable. Dr. Abdullahi assured that this goal would be met by next year and emphasized the vital role of solar energy in addressing the country’s energy needs.
Additionally, the government is enhancing expertise in the renewable energy sector by constructing a Renewable Energy College to provide free education and train professionals, addressing workforce shortages in the power sector.
