The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, has announced a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s domestic renewable energy sector, declaring that the country must transition away from reliance on imported energy solutions.
Speaking following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Mente Energy, Aliyu unveiled the Renewable Energy Localisation and Industrialisation Programme (RELIP), a new initiative aimed at boosting local manufacturing of clean energy technologies.
According to Aliyu, the agency has already made significant strides in expanding electricity access through decentralized clean energy systems. These efforts include delivering more than 1.6 million connections, installing over 131 megawatts of solar capacity, and reaching more than 8 million Nigerians.
However, he emphasized that the focus is now shifting beyond access to building a sustainable domestic industry.
RELIP is designed to position Nigeria not just as a consumer of renewable energy but as a producer, with plans to develop a comprehensive 20-year industrialisation roadmap, establish clear localisation pathways, and create investor-ready opportunities within the sector.
Aliyu noted that the programme will also include demand modelling and strategies to attract long-term capital investment, helping transform renewable energy projects into a full-fledged industrial ecosystem.
He added that the agency aims to act as a bridge between electrification and industrialisation by leveraging growing demand to stimulate local manufacturing, particularly in renewable energy components.
The expected benefits of the initiative include reduced dependence on imports, conservation of foreign exchange, job creation, and increased value retention within Nigeria’s economy.
To ensure continuity, the agency has also established a dedicated Localisation and Industrialisation Unit to oversee the programme’s implementation.
Aliyu described the agreement with Mente Energy as more than a formal partnership, calling it “a statement of direction” for Nigeria’s renewable energy future and a signal to investors that the sector presents strong and immediate opportunities.
