In a bid to retain the $40 billion required to close its electricity access gap, Nigeria is doubling down on local manufacturing of solar technologies, positioning itself as Africa’s renewable energy hub while unlocking new job opportunities and attracting investment.

Speaking at the launch of the Next Generation RESCO programme in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said the Federal Government has resolved to transform its energy deficit into an economic opportunity.

Aliyu stressed that the $410 billion required for Nigeria’s energy transition plan and the $40 billion required to bridge access cannot end up in the pockets of foreigners and importers.

He noted that Nigeria, despite having the highest number of people without access to electricity on the continent, remains critically underrepresented in the global renewable energy job market.

“It is no longer enough to talk about energy poverty. We must act by localising solutions through finance, infrastructure, talent, and manufacturing. The access gap is not just a burden; it is our opportunity to lead Africa’s energy future,” Aliyu said.

Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria has secured a landmark $750 million in public-sector renewable energy funding—one of the largest globally.

This, according to the REA boss, marks a turning point in efforts to build infrastructure and deepen the domestic renewable energy value chain.

Aliyu revealed ongoing negotiations for an additional $200 million in co-financing and a prospective $700 million under separate arrangements, bringing potential funding to well over $1 billion to push renewable.

But he stressed that financing alone is insufficient without an enabling ecosystem.

At the heart of this ecosystem is the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) framework, a public-private model aimed at fast-tracking deployment through private sector-led innovation.

More than 50 RESCOs are currently active across Nigeria, up from just 10 a few years ago, deploying off-grid and decentralised energy systems in underserved communities, he noted.

Aliyu said Nigeria’s focus on import substitution is already bearing fruit, with the country’s local solar panel manufacturing capacity rising from 100MW to over 600MW since President Tinubu took office.

He disclosed that operational plants now exist in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts of the country, with more expected in the near term.

He added that localisation is not limited to panels alone. “We are ensuring that components currently imported will soon be produced here in Nigeria, not only for domestic use but for export across Africa,” he said.

Aliyu said human capital remained a challenge for the sector, stating that “to convert financing and policy into sustainable energy access, we need a skilled workforce.”

The Next Generation RESCO programme, developed in partnership with Prado Energy, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) and other stakeholders, is Nigeria’s first public-private talent pipeline for the renewable energy sector.

Aliyu noted that the programme blends classroom learning with nine months of paid internship placements at leading RESCOs, with automatic job offers for top-performing trainees.

The initiative, designed with gender parity and regional inclusion in mind, will kick off with 120 participants and grow over time.