What Went Wrong And How Can We Fix It: Renewable Energy and Mini-Grid Policies in Nigeria

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which is the independent government agency responsible for regulating the electricity sector, in 2016, approved a regulatory framework that aims to accelerate the electrification of the country, where only 59% of its population have access to electricity and for only about 35.8 hours a week on average, through minigrids – isolated and interconnected. This was done to facilitate investment from private entities into the country’s unreliable electricity infrastructure. In this paper we analyze this policy, identifying potential problems in it and proffering solutions to these problems. We also review Nigeria’s quest to come up with a coherent strategy for harnessing its renewable energy resources. The obstacles were identified, and solutions were proffered.