Renewables
Stalled renewable energy projects highlight Nigeria's infrastructure hurdles
Delays at utility-scale wind and solar developments illustrate systemic challenges in Nigeria's renewable energy sector.
Key points
- The 10MW Lambar-Rimi wind farm in Katsina has faced numerous delays since construction began following a 2010 federal contract.
- Katsina State reacquired the facility in 2025 with plans to hybridise it with a solar plant.
- Experts point to regulatory uncertainty, grid constraints and weak institutional coordination as key barriers.
What happened
Nigeria's push to expand renewable energy generation has faced persistent delays, exemplified by the stalled 10MW Lambar-Rimi wind farm in Katsina State. Premium Times reported that the project began in 2005 under the state government before transferring to federal control in 2007. A contract was awarded to French firm Vergnet S.A. in 2010, but security challenges, contract revisions and extended inactivity left the facility incomplete.
By 2025, the Katsina State Government reacquired the wind farm with federal approval under the Electricity Act 2023. The state announced plans to hybridise the site with a 10MW solar plant, aiming for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. Other utility-scale projects have faced similar hurdles. World Bank data notes that Nigeria's electricity access rate stood at 62.5 per cent in 2024, while the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported average grid supply at about 5,400MW in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Why it matters
Analysts note that the slow pace of development reflects broader structural weaknesses in turning power resources into bankable assets. Ojodomo Odiniya, a research and operations consultant for the Nigerian Wind Energy Council, told Premium Times that the sector suffers from policy uncertainty, financing gaps, inadequate resource data and grid constraints.
While some initiatives, such as a 10MW solar project in Kano State commissioned by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority in 2023, have succeeded, others like the 75MW Kankia solar project saw their generation licences expire. Observers point to countries like Egypt as a model, where structured institutional frameworks and clear private sector participation mechanisms have accelerated renewable deployment.
What comes next
Experts emphasize the need for a systematic approach to project development, including localized value chains for civil works and maintenance rather than full domestic manufacturing of complex components. Future developments will require aligned financing, robust evacuation infrastructure and secure operating environments to bridge Nigeria's electricity deficit.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
22.0% of electricity in Nigeria was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
