NCC, REA sign MoU to drive digital infrastructure expansion through renewable energy
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have entered into a partnership aimed at advancing the deployment of sustainable digital infrastructure across Nigeria. This initiative will integrate renewable energy solutions with telecommunications infrastructure.
The two agencies formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the NCC–REA Stakeholder Workshop on July 24, 2026. The event took place at the NCC Annex Office Auditorium in Mbora, Abuja.
Titled “Unlocking the Energy–Telecoms Nexus for Scalable Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria,” the workshop brought together senior government officials, telecommunications operators, tower companies, renewable energy developers, financiers, and various industry stakeholders. Participants discussed strategies for enhancing connectivity through sustainable energy solutions.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, was represented by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner for Technical Services. Oshadami characterized the partnership as a significant step toward increasing digital connectivity and energy access in Nigeria.
“Reliable electricity and digital connectivity are not two separate development goals,” Oshadami said. “They are mutually reinforcing foundations of the same objective that produces an inclusive and productive economy.” He emphasized the challenges faced by communities lacking stable electricity, which struggle to maintain telecommunications infrastructure, and those without connectivity, who are unable to fully benefit from electrification.
Oshadami outlined the partnership’s framework, which will facilitate coordinated planning, shared infrastructure, and renewable energy solutions. The REA will contribute geospatial data on current and planned electrification projects, while the NCC will provide information on the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) deployments. This collaboration aims to identify areas lacking connectivity and energy for more effective planning and execution.
The initiative seeks to power telecommunications infrastructure, such as base stations and fiber repeater sites, using off-grid renewable energy projects developed by the REA. By co-locating telecom infrastructure on REA-created energy assets where feasible, the partnership intends to reduce deployment costs and enhance connectivity in underserved communities.
Engr. Umar Abdullahi Umar, Executive Director for Technical Services at the REA, emphasized the reliance of Nigeria’s digital economy on robust energy infrastructure. He noted that renewable energy mini grids offer a cleaner alternative to diesel-powered telecom sites and that the partnership opens new, commercially viable opportunities for telecom operators and renewable energy developers.
“Reliable power and universal connectivity are not competing priorities. They are the same priority,” Umar stated. “Where we deliver them together, the cost of each falls and the reach of both extends.”
The workshop included presentations from the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee on geospatial analysis, pilot project opportunities, and implementation strategies, as well as panel discussions on financing models, policy, regulatory issues, and infrastructure planning. Oshadami encouraged stakeholders to identify practical financing mechanisms, commercial models, and regulatory measures to translate the partnership into large-scale, sustainable projects.
The Memorandum of Understanding is expected to enhance cooperation between the NCC and REA, contributing to the Federal Government’s objectives for digital economy development and rural advancement. The collaboration aims to improve infrastructure planning, expand broadband connectivity, promote renewable energy integration in telecommunications, and establish resilient digital infrastructure, all of which are critical for socioeconomic development in Nigeria.
