Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious plan to scale up its electricity generation capacity to 209,000 megawatts from solar energy by 2050, as part of efforts to strengthen power supply and accelerate its clean energy transition.
A new industry report by Infrastructure Intelligence Reports (IIR) shows that 53 large-scale solar power projects valued at about $11 billion are currently being developed across the country. These projects are expected to significantly expand Nigeria’s renewable energy base and improve access to electricity, especially in underserved areas.
The report highlights growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s solar sector, as the country continues to push for a more diversified and sustainable energy mix.
In addition to large solar plants, the Federal Government is expanding decentralized power solutions through mini-grids and standalone solar systems. The initiative, led by the , involves the rollout of over 1,300 solar mini-grids and off-grid systems nationwide.
About 250 of these mini-grids are designed to connect directly to the national grid, helping to stabilize electricity supply while reducing dependence on diesel generators in rural communities.
The programme is backed by $750 million in public funding and is expected to attract an additional $1.1 billion from private investors. According to officials, it is one of the largest renewable energy interventions of its kind globally.
The agency’s Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, said the project marks a major shift in Nigeria’s energy strategy, with renewable power being positioned as a central solution to the country’s electricity challenges. He added that the initiative could bring electricity to about 17.5 million people within three years.
Nigeria has already made progress in expanding mini-grid infrastructure, with more than 1,000 systems installed across the country, many supported by public funding.
The country’s broader electrification efforts are also supported by the -backed Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme, which promotes solar mini-grids, standalone systems, and energy storage solutions. The plan aims to replace over 250,000 diesel generators with cleaner alternatives.
Data from the shows Nigeria added 803 megawatts of solar capacity in 2025, bringing total installed solar power to just over 1,000 megawatts.
Nigeria’s long-term energy roadmap also aligns with Africa-wide electrification efforts such as the , which aims to connect 300 million people to electricity across the continent by 2030.
While gas-fired plants still dominate Nigeria’s power generation, renewable energy now accounts for about 23% of the energy mix. The government plans to raise this to 30% by 2030 and 82% by 2050 as part of its net-zero 2060 commitment.
Solar energy is expected to lead the country’s future power expansion as Nigeria moves toward its long-term 2050 capacity target.
