The Federal Government has unveiled a new strategy to improve electricity supply in Nigeria by expanding renewable energy deployment and improving the management of existing power assets.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announced the plan on Wednesday during the launch of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) and a stakeholders’ media engagement session.
According to Tegbe, renewable energy now plays a growing role in Nigeria’s electricity strategy. Therefore, the government wants to build a more diversified power system that can serve different communities and economic sectors.
“Renewable energy is not peripheral to Nigeria’s power architecture. It is an increasingly important pillar of our power technology deployment strategy,” Tegbe said.
FG targets more reliable electricity
The minister explained that the government plans to combine several electricity sources and technologies.
These include:
- National grid supply
- Embedded generation
- Interconnected mini-grids
- Isolated mini-grids
- Distributed renewable energy
- Battery and other energy storage systems
This approach, Tegbe said, would allow power infrastructure to move closer to areas with high demand.
As a result, communities, businesses and public institutions could gain better access to electricity while the wider power system becomes more resilient.
He said renewable energy assets could also help improve electricity access in locations where extending the national grid remains difficult or expensive.
Why government launched RAMCO
The launch of RAMCO forms part of wider reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
The company will focus on the sustainable management of renewable energy assets and help ensure that infrastructure remains operational after deployment.
Tegbe said RAMCO would create a stronger connection between infrastructure development and long-term sustainability.
It will also provide a platform for linking public investment with private-sector capital.
“RAMCO, therefore, forms an important part of the broader reforms across the power sector,” the minister said.
He added that the ultimate goal was to ensure that electricity reaches consumers when they need it and at a sustainable cost.
Nigeria faces power supply paradox
Tegbe acknowledged that Nigeria continues to face a major challenge despite its abundant energy resources and existing power infrastructure.
According to him, the country has invested heavily in power assets but still struggles to provide dependable electricity to consumers.
“Nigeria has lived for too long with an embarrassing paradox: we are rich in power assets, energy resources and installed infrastructure, yet poor in availability of dependable electricity,” he said.
However, the minister believes better management could help Nigeria get more value from its existing and future investments.
What RAMCO is expected to achieve
The Renewable Asset Management Company will be expected to:
- Protect the value of renewable energy assets
- Improve the operational uptime of facilities
- Set transparent performance standards
- Strengthen maintenance systems
- Ensure timely replacement of ageing equipment
- Reduce avoidable deterioration of infrastructure
- Help attract additional investment into renewable energy
Tegbe stressed that RAMCO’s performance should not depend simply on how many assets it manages.
Instead, the government will assess the company by how well those assets perform and how much reliable electricity they deliver.
“Success should not be measured by how many assets enter RAMCO’s portfolio. It should be measured by how many remain operational,” he said.
FG links reliable power to economic growth
Meanwhile, Tegbe said the government’s electricity ambition goes beyond simply increasing power generation.
He argued that reliable electricity remains essential to Nigeria’s broader economic transformation.
“Electricity is not the destination. Our ambition is bigger than ending darkness. Our ambition is to use electricity to build prosperity,” the minister said.
With more dependable power, the government expects Nigerian manufacturers to become more competitive.
In addition, reliable electricity could support digital infrastructure, improve healthcare services and strengthen agricultural production.
It could also create new economic opportunities in rural communities where poor electricity access continues to limit development.
Government seeks private investment
The minister further disclosed that RAMCO would support efforts to attract local and international investment into Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
The government hopes that a clearer framework for managing power assets will give investors greater confidence.
Consequently, the initiative could encourage more private capital to flow into renewable energy projects across the country.
The Federal Government’s renewable energy strategy comes as Nigeria continues to search for sustainable ways to close its electricity supply gap and reduce dependence on unreliable power sources.
What this means for Nigerians
If the government’s plan succeeds, improved management of renewable energy infrastructure could help deliver more reliable electricity to communities, businesses and public institutions.
However, the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on effective maintenance, transparent management, new investment and the ability to keep renewable energy assets operational over the long term.
Nigeria’s renewable energy push is increasingly becoming a key part of efforts to improve electricity access and strengthen the country’s wider power infrastructure.
For more information on Nigeria’s power sector reforms, visit the Federal Ministry of Power.
