Nigeria is positioning solar energy at the centre of its long-term power strategy, with plans to develop 53 large-scale solar projects valued at about $11 billion and expand installed solar capacity to 209,000 megawatts by 2050.
The projection was highlighted in a new industry report by IIR, which underscores the federal government’s increasing reliance on renewable energy to bridge the country’s electricity access gap, diversify its energy mix and advance its net-zero emissions commitments.
According to the report, the 53 utility-scale solar projects currently in the pipeline represent one of the largest renewable energy investment portfolios in Africa. The projects are expected to strengthen national power supply, attract private capital and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
Beyond large-scale generation, the government is also expanding decentralised electricity access through solar mini-grids and off-grid systems targeted at underserved communities across the country.
This effort is being driven by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), which is implementing a nationwide programme to deploy more than 1,300 solar mini-grids and standalone power systems.
The initiative includes 250 interconnected mini-grids designed to supply electricity to local communities while also feeding excess power into the national grid, creating a hybrid decentralised energy model.
The programme is backed by $750 million in public funding and is expected to mobilise an additional $1.1 billion in private sector investment, making it one of the largest renewable energy interventions in the country.
Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, described the initiative as a transformative step aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s electricity landscape and expanding access to reliable power.
According to him, the programme reflects the government’s strategy to position renewable energy as a major pillar of national electricity supply while reducing dependence on diesel-powered generators, which remain widely used across households and businesses.
He added that the initiative is projected to provide electricity access to about 17.5 million Nigerians within three years, representing roughly 20 per cent of the population.
Nigeria has already recorded significant progress in solar deployment, with industry data showing that more than 1,000 mini-grids have been installed nationwide, many supported by public financing and development partners.
The country’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme, supported by the World Bank, is also accelerating investments in solar mini-grids, standalone systems and battery storage solutions aimed at displacing over 250,000 diesel generators.
Data from the Global Solar Council indicate that Nigeria added 803MW of solar capacity in 2025, bringing total installed solar capacity to about 1,019MW.
Nigeria’s renewable energy drive aligns with broader continental initiatives such as the World Bank-backed Mission 300 programme, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030, with tens of millions already connected since its rollout.
While gas remains the dominant source of power generation in Nigeria, renewable energy currently accounts for about 23 per cent of the national energy mix, largely driven by hydro and solar sources.
The Federal Government has set targets of increasing renewables to 30 per cent of electricity generation by 2030 and 82 per cent by 2050, with solar expected to play a central role in achieving those ambitions.
