Nigeria Pledges to Electrify 300 Million Africans by 2030, Says Abbas
Nigeria has pledged to lead Africa’s energy transition by committing to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by the year 2030, according to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
The commitment was announced during the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy, held in Lagos and organized by the House Committee on Renewable Energy in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners to deliberate on strategies to improve energy access across the continent through renewable sources.
Speaker Abbas revealed that Nigeria is taking a leadership role in the continent-wide “Mission 300” initiative, spearheaded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The initiative seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 — a bold response to the energy poverty that still plagues much of sub-Saharan Africa.
“On the continental stage, Nigeria has assumed a leadership role,” Abbas said. “Through our participation in the Mission 300 Initiative with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, we are working to provide electricity to three hundred million Africans by 2030.”
The broader initiative includes a $90 billion financing plan, supported by multilateral development banks and international donors, to bridge Africa’s energy access gap and reduce reliance on harmful traditional fuels.
Speaker Abbas also outlined Nigeria’s domestic energy goals, which align with the national Energy Transition Plan aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. He cited President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $1 billion financing plan in December 2024 to support the Rural Electrification Agency, further underscoring the country’s seriousness about expanding access to clean and affordable electricity.
He noted that achieving energy security in Nigeria and across Africa would require synchronized action from all sectors of society:
“The success of this transition depends on coherent actions across all institutions. Legislators must establish sound legal foundations. The executive must implement with integrity and urgency. The private sector must invest in innovation and scale. Civil society must foster awareness, inclusion, and accountability.”
Apart from expanding the electricity grid, the Mission 300 project also includes clean cooking initiatives to reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal, which contribute to environmental degradation and pose severe health risks.
The Lagos legislative conference emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, adopting climate-resilient technologies, and creating enabling environments through legislation that promotes private investment and sustainable practices.
Speaker Abbas encouraged African parliaments to collaborate, share best practices, and develop model legislation to support the collective energy goals of the continent. He urged participants to move beyond dialogue and translate the outcomes of the conference into actionable steps.
“We must ensure that resolutions made here today are not just words on paper, but foundations for real change — through policy adoption, project implementation, and strengthened partnerships,” he said.
With Nigeria now positioning itself as a continental leader in energy access and renewable development, the success of the Mission 300 initiative will be closely tied to its ability to galvanize domestic and regional support, mobilize investments, and drive long-term sustainability in Africa’s energy sector.
