Groups Seek Zero Tariffs on Renewable Energy Products in Nigeria

Following the dearth of funding from the Nigerian government and donor agencies for research into alternative energy sources, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have urged the government to grant zero tariffs on renewable energy products for greater energy access in the country.

The group made the plea during a one-day renewable energy conference, funded by Friends of the Earth Norway, which brought together civil society, development groups, government officials and community-based groups who shared experiences and analyzed critically issues concerning energy policy in Nigeria.

Nigeria's New Cabinet and the Energy Sector

Nigeria’s new cabinet make-up provides some interesting pointers for future energy policy. This means that it will look to balance new foreign investment with the imperative to retain local value, improve power supplies and strengthen the framework to manage energy resources more efficiently and transparently.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is Minister for Petroleum under his new government while current Head of state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, becomes the Junior Minister for Petroleum. There are differences in opinion as to whether this is an optimum structure, but there’s a clear emphasis on transparency and accountability, given Buhari’s strong oversight. Until the institutional weaknesses within the oil ministry, the sector licensing regime and the functions and operations of NNPC are plugged; reporting lines will now firmly be within executive control. However, there is every likelihood that this tight structure will be loosened later in Buhari’s term, when he can choose to fully relinquish that portfolio.

NERC Decries Absence of Renewable Energy Policy in Nigeria

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has decried the absence of a policy on renewable energy in the country, saying the development is retarding the contribution of solar energy to the power supply.

Speaking at the Nigeria Photovoltaic Energy Conference, Solarcon 2014, held in Lagos at the weekend, NERC’s Deputy General Manager in charge of Research and Development, Mr. Imamudeen Talba said Nigeria had all the potentials for solar power but lacked policies and legislations to drive this renewable energy option.

Government Establishes N33b Credit Line for Consumer Metering in Nigeria

THE Presidency has stated its concern over the huge metering gap in the electricity sector and wants it bridged immediately for a progressive growth in the direction the Federal Government intends it to.

   To that that end, Vice President Namadi Sambo said in Abuja Thursday that government was sourcing various funding avenues, including an initial N33 billion soft credit line to enable the distribution companies acquire smart metres and make them more available to consumers.

Nigerian Federal Government to Reinvigorate Rural Electrification Agency. Pledges Renewable Energy Policy Soon

Determined to lift the Rural Electrification Agency’s activities to an enviable height, the Federal Government is set to harness more resources in providing the rural populace with electricity.

To this end, the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, while receiving a delegation from Super Solar Nigeria Limited, led by Professor Jerry Gana, Ex-Minister of Information, said it was not palatable to know that 70per cent of Nigerians lived in rural areas where-as access to electricity was very low.

Nigeria to Launch Renewable Energy Policy

Nigeria had concluded plans to launch a national policy on renewable energy and energy efficiency to boost power supply in the country, a top government official said on Friday.

In the policy, government sought to provide an integrated framework for all stakeholders, especially investors in clean energy for power generation and the general development of renewable energy in Nigeria, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, told visiting Vice President of China Hydro International, Han Yang, in Abuja.

Nigeria: Federal Government to Connect 75% Households to National Grid by 2020

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday projected that 75 percent of the population and households would have been connected to the national grid by 2020.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo who spoke at the 7th Annual Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) in Abuja, said: "We are getting these things ready. Government is investing a huge amount of resources to make sure that most communities in Nigeria that are not connected to the national grid eventually get connected to the national grid. That is going to happen. By the grace of God, it will not be long. By 2020, 75% of all Nigerians population and all households will be connected to the national grid."

€27M for Renewable Energy Policy in Nigeria

A grant of €27 million will be invested into enabling framework conditions for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nigeria, as part of a programme “Energising Access to Sustainable Energy” (EASE), the European Commission announced on 4th of July.

New EU Support for Renewable Energy Policy in Nigeria

Today, the European Commission announced €27 million of financial support to help improve the renewable energy policy in Nigeria. Currently, a large part of the Nigerian population lacks access to energy or relies on polluting fuels such as fuel wood and charcoal with severe consequences for health and the environment.