Morganable Technology/Telecoms
The initiative is also expected to lower operating costs for telecom operators, many of whom rely heavily on diesel-powered generators to keep their infrastructure running
kaNo —
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have formalised a partnership aimed at transforming Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape by powering critical infrastructure with renewable energy.
The move is expected to cut costs, reduce diesel dependence, and expand network coverage in underserved communities.
The agreement, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday at the NCC-REA Stakeholder Forum in Abuja, signals a coordinated effort by the Federal Government to address two of the country’s most persistent development challenges,limited electricity supply and uneven digital connectivity.
The initiative is also expected to lower operating costs for telecom operators, many of whom rely heavily on diesel-powered generators to keep their infrastructure running.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, emphasised that reliable power supply and digital connectivity are closely intertwined and must be tackled together to achieve meaningful development outcomes.
Represented by the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, Maida noted that communities lacking electricity often struggle to sustain telecom infrastructure, while those without connectivity are unable to fully leverage the benefits of electrification.
“Reliable electricity and digital connectivity are not two separate development goals,” he said.
“They share mutually complementary objectives that produce an inclusive and productive economy. A community without power struggles to sustain connectivity infrastructure, and a community without connectivity struggles to fully benefit from the power it receives.”
He explained that the MoU would enable both agencies to integrate planning processes by leveraging shared infrastructure and renewable energy solutions, thereby accelerating broadband expansion in underserved regions.
This, he said, would allow for better identification of communities where electrification and connectivity gaps overlap, ensuring that interventions are targeted and efficient.
“In concrete terms, this means that REA will share geospatial data on electrified, newly electrified and planned electrification projects with the Commission, while the Commission will provide its own data on existing and planned Universal Service Provision Fund deployments,” he said.
“This ensures that both institutions operate from a single, integrated map of connectivity and energy gaps rather than two disconnected ones,” he added.
Partnership Would Explore Opportunities For Co-Locating Telecom Infrastructure
The NCC boss added that the partnership would also explore opportunities for co-locating telecom infrastructure such as base stations and fibre repeaters on REA-developed energy facilities, while enabling telecom operators to access stable and affordable electricity from off-grid renewable projects.
“The Commission can no longer achieve its mandate by working within the boundaries of telecommunications alone,” Maida said.
“Meaningful connectivity, particularly for underserved and rural communities, depends on coordinated action across energy, infrastructure, finance and policy.”
Cost Of Diesel: Major Constraint To Telecom Expansion
On his part, the Executive Director of Technical Services at the REA, Umar Abdullahi, said the high cost of diesel had become a major constraint to telecom expansion, particularly in remote parts of the country.
“Where the grid does not reach and across large parts of this country it does not, that consumption is met by diesel,” he said.
“The cost of that diesel is not merely an operating expense. It is the reason coverage stops where it stops and the reason expansion into the last forty per cent of our landmass has been so difficult to justify commercially.”
Abdullahi described renewable mini-grids as a viable and sustainable alternative, noting that telecom towers provide a consistent demand for electricity, making them ideal anchor customers for such projects.
“A telecommunications tower is a near-perfect anchor load steady, twenty-four hours a day, creditworthy and contractually reliable,” he said.
He disclosed that technical teams from both agencies had already conducted a proximity analysis using data from telecom base stations and mini-grid locations to identify areas where integration is feasible.
According to him, the exercise has produced a defined set of priority sites where renewable energy can be deployed to power telecom infrastructure immediately, particularly in locations where existing or planned mini-grids are close to telecom installations.
Abdullahi added that the MoU establishes a formal framework for collaboration, eliminating the siloed approach that previously characterised the operations of both agencies.
“The MoU is very significant because before today, both agencies have been working in silos,” he said.
“By signing this agreement, we now have a unified agenda where our efforts complement each other.”
He further revealed that several telecom towers currently powered by diesel have already been identified for migration to renewable energy sources.
“There are priority sites that have already been established,” he said.
“You have towers relying on diesel right now, and we’re working to move them to mini-grids. This will reduce operational costs and expand coverage to more Nigerians.”
Also speaking, Oshadami assured that the benefits of the partnership would be felt almost immediately, particularly in communities located near existing mini-grid installations.
“As you can see from our deliberations, the MoU allows both REA and NCC to maximise available resources from both sectors,” he said.
“Mini-grids that are already in place will begin powering nearby base stations, and future projects will be designed with this integration in mind.”he added.
He added that improved electricity supply to telecom infrastructure would enhance network reliability and quality of service in rural areas, where connectivity challenges have persisted for years.
Industry observers say the partnership could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, particularly as the country pushes to expand broadband penetration and strengthen its digital economy.
By aligning energy and telecommunications planning, the NCC and REA initiative is expected to unlock new opportunities for investment, improve service delivery, and bring millions of Nigerians in remote communities into the digital space.
