Energy Commission, Governors’ Forum, China Energy Partner to Transform Nigeria’s Energy Sector

In its concerted quest to redirect and improve the country’s energy sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with two of its partners; the China Energy Engineering Corporation Ltd and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF in what is described as a major groundbreaking event.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding aims to promote major definitions of direction in energy by this administration, including amendment of the Nigerian constitution and signing into law of the Nigerian Electricity Act 2023, thereby opening the electricity sector up for states and other sub-national governments to regulate their respective electricity market.

In his address at the event which took place on Thursday, 10, April 2025 in Abuja, the nations capital, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria ECN, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha disclosed that China Energy Corporation has offered to bring its wealth of resources into the opportunities recently provided by the new direction in energy of the President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Mustapha noted that, “between 2023 and now, there have been major definitions of direction in energy by this administration, including amendment of the Nigerian constitution and signing into law of the Nigerian Electricity Act 2023, thereby opening the electricity sector up for states and other sub-national governments to regulate their respective electricity market.

“This is why in the right direction, the Governors’ Forum was identified as the best partner. We thank the Chairman Governor’s Forum for agreeing to join us in addressing our common long-standing electricity problem by agreeing to this understanding.

According to the DG ECN, “The scope of this MoU includes building green energy future, energy planning in support of Nigerian states towards developing their energy in alignment with the gazetted National Energy Masterplan and increasing energy resource utilization through solar, wind,hydro-electricity especially in off-grid communities.

“As a way to enshrine sustainability, we will also unveil the Nigeria-China Renewable Energy Research Centre, which will support Nigeria by providing cutting-edge technology research to further empower and build human capacity to solving energy problems in Nigeria.” Dr. Mustapha stated.

Speaking further at the event, ECN Director General disclosed that, “within a short time from now, we are expecting massive investments in the projects that will begin to come up from this relationship; we expect many sustainable jobs to be created for the Nigerian population across the states and this will further enhance energy security, which is our highest aim.

“As the relationship progresses, Nigeria’s contribution towards carbon neutrality will continue to come to the fore and there will be direct impact on our environment, making life better and the mother earth a better place to live.” He said.

In his conclusion, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi thanked all partners who contributed towards making this day a reality and further emphasize the Commission’s continued determination to carry out its mandate in overall support of this administration vision to renew the hope of Nigerians.

The event had in attendance, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Representative of Chinese Government/Embassy, Chairman, China Energy and lastly, Director General of the NGF.