A renewable energy and climate change researcher at Purdue University, USA, Johnson Oluwatuyi Nelson, has called on the Federal Government to urgently prioritise investments in solar and wind power to address Nigeria’s chronic electricity shortages and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Nelson told The Guardian that despite Nigeria’s abundant fossil fuel reserves, the nation has struggled for decades to meet its electricity demand, producing an average of 7,100 megawatts (MW) from 2005 to 2024 against an estimated daily need of 31,000 MW.
He noted that over 75 per cent of the country’s 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) annual electricity generation comes from fossil fuels, mainly natural gas, with only 23 per cent from hydropower, forcing millions of Nigerians to rely on expensive, polluting generators.
“Nigeria lies in the tropical sunbelt, with average solar radiation between 4 and 7 kWh/m² per day. If just 1 per cent of our land were dedicated to solar farms, we could generate up to 210 GW, over 16 times our current installed capacity,” Nelson said.
While the country currently has about 385.7 MW of installed solar capacity, mostly in off-grid applications, he pointed to major projects such as the proposed 5.6 GW solar park in Katsina as signs of growing potential. He also highlighted wind prospects in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau, and Taraba, with onshore potential estimated at 3.2 GW.
Nelson stressed that renewable energy offers economic, environmental, and security benefits, including job creation, reduced power costs, improved public health, and greater resilience against fuel price shocks.
“In 2023 alone, Nigerians spent N16.5 trillion on diesel, petrol, and generator resources that could be redirected to build renewable infrastructure,” he said, adding that renewables would also help Nigeria meet its climate targets under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and move toward net-zero emissions
The scholar urged the government to implement policy and regulatory reforms, invest in grid and storage infrastructure, support local manufacturing of renewable components, secure international financing, and raise public awareness.
“With over 210 GW of solar potential and more than 3 GW of wind capacity, Nigeria can meet and exceed its future electricity needs. Every panel installed and turbine erected is a step toward a cleaner, more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
