KEY POINTS
- REAN and NERC met in Abuja to strengthen Nigeria’s renewable energy regulatory framework significantly.
- NERC’s Mini-Grid Regulations 2026 raised the development threshold to five megawatts and above.
- Both bodies committed to building investor confidence and deploying net-billing and integration frameworks.
Nigeria’s renewable energy industry wants better rules, faster permits and more investor confidence. Last month, it sat down with the regulator to say so.
The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria held a high-level engagement meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission at NERC’s headquarters in Abuja on May 14. The REAN delegation was led by its president, Ayo Ademilua, and received by NERC Commissioner for Research and Data Analytics Dr. Fouad Animashaun.
The meeting covered regulatory frameworks, investor access and the industry challenges slowing down Nigeria’s clean energy push.
New rules raise the bar for mini-grid developers
REAN came in with specific things to say. The association praised NERC’s Mini-Grid Regulations 2026, which raised the mini-grid development threshold to five megawatts and above. Developers and investors say the higher threshold opens the door to larger, commercially viable projects that were previously too constrained by regulatory limits.
REAN also commended NERC’s work on a draft net-billing framework, describing it as a key driver for expanding household and commercial energy access. The association pressed for stronger policy coordination, effective enforcement and institutional collaboration to push renewable energy deployment across the country.
Ademilua was direct about what the sector needs. He called for a dedicated coordination structure to sustain communication between bodies, support possible joint inspections and eliminate substandard installations that have undermined public confidence in solar products.
NERC pledges support and deeper coordination
NERC did not push back. The commission reiterated its commitment to developing net-billing and renewable energy integration frameworks and to building capacity through technical training and coordination with state-level regulators and Renewable Energy Service Companies.
The commission also flagged public awareness as a gap. Officials said consumer confidence in renewable energy solutions depends heavily on better training for solar technicians and clearer communication about approved standards.
Both sides wrapped up the meeting with a shared commitment to policies that would produce a more reliable, inclusive and sustainable energy future for Nigeria. REAN’s Head of Communications, Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, confirmed the outcome in a statement issued after the meeting.
