Mapping of Renewable Energy Policy Activities in Nigeria since 1960

Research sponsored by
Social Responsibility Managers (SRM)
April 2015

Social Responsibility Managers Abuja, Nigeria RC 792212

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Year
1960 1966
First
democratic
government

1979-1983
Second
democratic
government

1985 1993
Military
government

1993 1998
Military
government

Activity

1960s

Use of windmills in schools in one of the northern states, Sokoto state in over 20
homes and schools to pump water. Project was likely sponsored by the state
government

1979

Legal establishment of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the apex energy
policy making body

1980

Formal establishment of Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN)

1982

Establishment of two Energy Research Centres (ERC), dedicated to conducting

research into use of renewable energy in the country

1988

Amendment of Act establishing Energy Commission of Nigeria

1989

Energy Commission commences operations after amendment of ECN Act, and

lobbying by SESN

1993

First National Energy Policy (NEP) developed by ECN. Policy strongly advocates for
inclusion of renewable energy in Nigerias energy mix

1996

Review of draft National Energy Policy by an Inter-ministerial committee

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1999

Likely influence of UNDP in establishment of Ministry of Environment

Date not
Second inter-ministerial committee reviews National Energy Policy document
specified

1999 2007
Third
democratic
government

2001

Approval of National Electric Power Policy. Some comments on the document

suggest that policy refers to RE only in addressing rural electrification

2003

Federal Executive Council approves National Energy Policy

2005

Setup of Nigerian Automotive Biofuel programme

2005

Enactment of Electric Power Sector reform Act. The Act is primarily aimed at
privatization of the electric power sector

2005

First draft of Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) with support of UNDP. The
document proposes 0.8%, 5%, 10.5% contribution of renewable energy to
electricity supply in the country by 2007, 2015 and 2025 respectively. UNDP's
support in development of REMP, seems to be the first attempt of international
partners to directly influence RE policy in Nigeria.

2005

Launch of National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP). The project is sponsored by

the World Bank, and focused on building natural gas power plants. It also gives
little or no consideration to use of renewable energy in power generation.

2006

Creation of Special Climate Change Unit under the Federal Ministry of

Environment

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2007

Draft of Nigerian Biofuel Policy and Incentives by Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation

2007

Establishment of a National Energy Council by the Presidency. Function of

commission include to advise government on oil and gas, energy masterplan,
strategic national investments, and review of national policy documents. The
council managed energy partnership agreements which covered renewable
energy sources.

2007

Development of National Energy Masterplan by Energy Commission of Nigeria

2008

President signs Nigeria-German energy partnership. Agreement covers solar,

hydro and wind energy, and waste

2009

Presentation of Vision 20:2020, a document which specifies the policy direction

that will enable Nigeria become one of the 20 largest world economies by year
2020. The document addresses renewable energy as part of the nations physical
infrastructure, and identifies it as a potentially significant input in Nigerias ability
to achieve a target of 40,000MW electrical power generation by 2020.

2009

President concludes arrangement for Nigeria-Brazil Energy Cooperation, which

focuses on biofuel production and marketing

2010

Setup of a Presidential Action Committee on Power, and Presidential Taskforce on

Power PTFP for implementation of Electric Power Sector reform Act of 2005

2010

Launch of Roadmap for Power Sector Reform document, which states that the
Federal Government will not give preference to use of new renewables, but will
focus on use of hydro, coal and natural gas. It also states that there will be no
direct capital injections towards new renewables, and any support will be in the
form of Feed-in-Tariff

2010

Inauguration of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission

2007 2010
Fourth
democratic
government

2010 2015
Fifth
democratic
government

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2012 UN
Year of
Sustainable
Energy for All

2010

Establishment of secretariat of ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy

Efficiency (ECREE) in Praia, Cape Verde with support of ECOWAS commission,
Austrian and Spanish governments, and UNIDO. Other partners include Global
Environment Facility (GEF)

2010

Launch of ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy. The policy development process

was co-funded by Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program, GEF, and
UNIDO

2010

UNDP in partnership with Nigerias Bank of Industry implements Access to

Renewable Energy Project to facilitate private lending to renewable energy
entrepreneurs.

2011

National Climate Change Policy is initiated by Fed Ministry of Environment, and

approved by Federal Executive Council

2011

Presentation of Transformation Agenda document by new government.

Document is aimed at guiding government priorities from 2011-2015. The
document makes no reference to renewable energy or climate change.

2012

Climate Investment Funds (CIF) committee allocates $85 million or $150million to

fund renewable energy projects (solar PV development) in northern Nigeria

2012

FG Approves National Policy on Climate Change and Response Strategy, but

refuses approval of the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action
on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN), and Bill to establish the National
Climate Change Commission

2012

Approval of ECOWAS Renewable energy policy by all member states including

Nigeria. Member states have obligations under the policy to propose national
action plans and measures for achieving targets Renewable energy penetration
by 2010 - 32%, 2020 - 35%, 2030 - 48%

2012

Review of Renewable Energy Masterplan. The document specifies target of 20%

renewable electricity in total electricity supplied, and 10-20% of biofuel in total
fuel supplied

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2012

Implementation commences on construction of 30MW solar plant in Kankiya local

government Katsina, under the Nigerian-German energy partnership

2012

Establishment of Renewable Energy Programme (REP) in Nigeria with support of

UNDP, World Bank, DFID and other Nigerian business groups

2012

NERC releases Multi-Year Tariff Order from 2012-2017, specifying Feed-in-Tariff

for renewable energy sources, as stated in Roadmap for Electric Sector Reform
document

2012

Release of NERC regulation on Embedded generation, which allows generation,

transmission and distribution of electricity within a confined area, without use of
the national grid. The regulation is expected to favor renewable electricity
companies, as it enables them to operate without reliance on the national grid.

2013

EU (EuropeAID) announces EUR27million support for improvement of renewable

energy policy in Nigeria, in partnership with World Bank and GIZ. The fund is
targeted at addressing climate change concerns

2013

Review of National Energy Policy

2013

Revision of Roadmap for Power Sector Reform document. Sentence indicating

Nigeria will not focus on use of RE is changed to reflect otherwise. However, the
manner of support recommended did not change from what was previously
stated i.e. support will only be in the form of Feed in Tariff, and not through direct
fund allocation. It also specifies the expected ratio of renewable electricity to
total electricity generated to be 5% in the medium term.

Date not National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) issues first license to
specified renewable energy company generating more than 1MW
2014-2024
UN Decade of
Sustainable
energy for all

2014

Revival of coal industry in Nigeria. NERC grants license to companies to exploit the
countrys coal resources

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2014

Development of National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEP)

by Federal Ministry of Power. The document has been submitted to the Federal
Executive Council, and now awaiting approval from the Council

2015

Review of National Energy Masterplan

Date not Federal Executive Council finally approves National Adaptation Strategy and Plan
specified of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN)

NERC approves and implements complete import duty waiver for equipment
Date not
required for power generation, and five year tax break for electricity generation,
specified
transmission and distribution companies

2015

UNDP is awarded a $4.4million grant from Global Environment Facility, to support

Nigerian government to put in place, policy and financial derisking instruments for
facilitating large scale, on-grid renewable energy investments

Social Responsibility Managers Abuja, Nigeria RC 792212

+234 803 355 9820; +234 802 716 8450
http://socialresponsibilitymanagers.org/; ts419@exeter.ac.uk; titi.obisesan@gmail.com