Tinubu Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to Expanding Energy Access Across Africa

President Bola Tinubu has wrapped up his visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he joined fellow African leaders at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.

The President and his delegation arrived on Sunday and are now en route back to Abuja.

The two-day event, organized by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank Group, resulted in the adoption of the Dar es Salaam Declaration. This agreement aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

A key moment of the summit was the official endorsement of the declaration by leaders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.

Following the reading of the declaration, heads of state from Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia signed the document.

By signing, these nations pledged to enhance electricity access for their citizens within the next five years.

The 12 countries intend to achieve this goal through National Energy Compacts, which outline specific policy measures to address sectoral challenges and set targets tailored to each country’s needs.

In a speech delivered by Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, President Tinubu praised the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group, and other development partners for their commitment to electrifying 300 million Africans by 2030.

He urged African leaders to prioritize energy accessibility, emphasizing the importance of collective effort.

“A future where our industries thrive, our economies expand, and our people prosper,” the President said in his address, read by the Minister of Power.

President Tinubu also reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its underserved population by 2030.

“This is a bold objective, but together, we can achieve it. As Nigeria’s President, I am fully committed to making energy access a top priority,” he stated.

Highlighting Nigeria’s progress with the backing of international partners, Tinubu acknowledged AfDB’s $1.1 billion initiative, expected to provide electricity to 5 million people by 2026, along with its $200 million investment in the Nigeria Electrification Project, which will power 500,000 people by 2025.

He also mentioned the AfDB’s planned $700 million investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power initiative and a $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, projected to supply electricity to an additional two million people.

“We are also preparing for the effective deployment of the World Bank’s $750 million support for expanding Nigeria’s distributed energy access through mini-grids and standalone solar systems, benefiting 16.2 million people,” he added.

Tinubu expressed gratitude to World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for their transformative vision, which he said would help “light up and power Africa.”

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He also acknowledged contributions from the UN Sustainable Energy for All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for Development.

“Africa is rich in energy resources, yet millions still lack reliable and affordable power. This is unacceptable, and we must take collective action to change this reality,” he stated.

President Tinubu emphasized ongoing investments in renewable energy, particularly solar power, across Nigeria.

“For instance, the federal government is in the final stages of launching an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure program that prioritizes renewable energy and enforces stricter vehicle emission standards.

This initiative will reduce adoption barriers, foster partnerships, and provide affordable EV financing options. I’m pleased to announce that the first batch of 100 electric buses has already arrived in the country,” he revealed.

He further noted that Nigeria’s energy sector is expanding due to ongoing reforms. The government continues to create incentives for investors in renewable energy, oil and gas, and energy efficiency.

Encouraged by attracting over $6 billion in new energy investments in 2024 alone, Tinubu’s administration is eager to build on this success in 2025 and beyond.

At the summit, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced a $70 million commitment to private sector funding for five Nigerian Renewable Electricity Service Companies (RESCOs) under the Nigeria Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) initiative. The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) will oversee its implementation.

Nigeria’s National Energy Compact, presented at the summit on Monday, outlines specific targets, implementation timelines, and planned reforms.

These include increasing power generation, improving transmission and distribution infrastructure at competitive costs, and ensuring financially viable utilities that provide reliable service. The plan also seeks to attract private sector investments to unlock additional resources.

Other reform measures include embracing decentralized renewable energy solutions, promoting clean cooking alternatives for affordable last-mile access, and leveraging the benefits of regional energy integration.

According to the document, Nigeria will require an estimated $23.2 billion in investments to achieve last-mile electrification, with contributions expected from both the public and private sectors.