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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of sustainable digital infrastructure across Nigeria by integrating renewable energy solutions with telecommunications infrastructure.
The collaboration was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the NCC–REA Stakeholder Workshop held at the NCC Annex Office Auditorium, Mbora, Abuja, on Friday, July 24, 2026.
The workshop, themed “Unlocking the Energy–Telecoms Nexus for Scalable Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria,” convened key stakeholders, including senior government officials, telecommunications operators, tower companies, renewable energy developers, financiers, development partners, and other industry players to explore practical strategies for expanding digital connectivity through sustainable energy solutions.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, described the partnership as a landmark initiative that aligns Nigeria’s digital connectivity ambitions with improved access to reliable energy.
He emphasised that dependable electricity and digital connectivity are complementary drivers of economic growth, noting that communities without stable power struggle to sustain telecommunications infrastructure, while those without internet connectivity are unable to maximise the benefits of electrification.
According to Oshadami, the agreement provides a practical framework for synchronising telecommunications and rural electrification initiatives through coordinated planning, infrastructure sharing, and the deployment of renewable energy solutions.
He disclosed that under the partnership, the REA will provide geospatial data on existing and proposed electrification projects, while the NCC will share information on ongoing and planned Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) projects. The exchange of data, he explained, will enable both agencies to jointly identify underserved areas and implement more effective connectivity and energy interventions.
Oshadami further revealed that the collaboration would explore opportunities to power telecommunications infrastructure—including base stations and fibre repeater sites—through the REA’s off-grid renewable energy projects. The initiative will also promote the co-location of telecommunications infrastructure on REA-developed energy assets where technically feasible, thereby reducing deployment costs, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating connectivity in underserved communities.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, represented by the Executive Director, Technical Services, Engr. Umar Abdullahi Umar, noted that the success of Nigeria’s digital economy is closely tied to the availability of reliable energy infrastructure.
He observed that renewable energy mini-grids offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to diesel-powered telecommunications sites, adding that the partnership would create commercially viable opportunities for both telecom operators and renewable energy developers.
“Reliable power and universal connectivity are not competing priorities. They are the same priority approached from two directions. When delivered together, the cost of each is reduced while the impact and reach of both are significantly expanded,” he said.
The workshop also featured presentations by the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee on geospatial mapping, pilot project opportunities, and implementation strategies. Panel discussions focused on financing models, regulatory frameworks, policy alignment, and infrastructure planning required to drive large-scale implementation.
Oshadami urged stakeholders to move beyond expressions of support by identifying practical financing mechanisms, sustainable business models, and enabling regulatory frameworks that would ensure the successful execution of the initiative.
The MoU marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts of the NCC and the REA to advance the Federal Government’s digital economy and rural development agenda. Through the partnership, both agencies aim to strengthen infrastructure planning, expand broadband penetration, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in telecommunications networks, and deliver resilient, scalable, and sustainable digital infrastructure that will drive socio-economic development across Nigeria.
