NIGERIA LAUNCHES LANDMARK INITIATIVE TO POWER RURAL CONNECTIVITY WITH CLEAN ENERGY

A partnership set to revolutionize access to both electricity and internet services in the country’s most remote areas.

Nigeria Clean energy Telecom infrastructure Communities Electricity Partnership Africa.
The Nigerian Communication Commission
The Nigerian Communication Commission


In a bold move to bridge Nigeria’s rural digital divide, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have unveiled a pioneering initiative to deliver clean energy-powered telecom infrastructure to underserved communities. This strategic partnership is set to revolutionize access to both electricity and internet services in the country’s most remote areas.

The newly formed NCC–REA Collaboration Committee was officially inaugurated on June 27, 2025, at the NCC headquarters in Abuja. The joint task force will design and implement renewable energy solutions, particularly solar-powered systems, to support telecom infrastructure such as base stations, network towers, and data hubs in rural Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, emphasized the transformative nature of the collaboration. “This partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people,” he said. 

The NCC–REA partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusive development and the use of technology to uplift communities. By tackling both energy poverty and digital exclusion in one strategy, the initiative reflects an integrated approach to national development.

Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the REA, highlighted the initiative’s potential to unlock socioeconomic benefits for millions. We are connecting the unconnected not just with power and networks but with opportunity, dignity, and access to modern services like education, healthcare, and finance. “Sustainable energy is the backbone of this mission,” he added. 

The committee’s responsibilities include: Deploying renewable energy systems to power telecom sites in off-grid and underserved areas, sharing geospatial data to improve planning and targeting, coordinating funding models to attract private sector investment, and monitoring impact through measurable economic and social indicators

The partnership arrives at a critical time, as government agencies intensify efforts to extend infrastructure to Nigeria’s hinterlands. Currently, many rural communities lack both stable electricity and reliable mobile coverage barriers that limit access to life-changing digital tools and services.

By replacing diesel-powered telecom systems with clean energy alternatives, the NCC and REA also aim to reduce carbon emissions, lower operational costs, and help Nigeria meet its climate targets.

Industry observers have praised the collaboration as a strategic model for integrated development, noting its potential to be replicated across other African nations facing similar infrastructure challenges.

With immediate plans already underway and periodic updates promised, the success of this project could redefine how Nigeria delivers inclusive growth in the digital age.

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