The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Energy Masterplan Implementation Committee (NEMiC), a move officials say marks the beginning of Nigeria’s transition to a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable energy future.
The inauguration, which took place on September 18 in Abuja, formally launched the implementation phase of the National Energy Masterplan (NEMP), a framework designed to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix, strengthen security of supply, and align with global climate action targets.
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the committee’s work would have a direct impact on households, industries and communities.
“The National Energy Masterplan is not just a document; it is a blueprint for transforming our energy landscape. NEMiC must fast-track the deployment of energy solutions that are reliable, affordable, and climate-friendly. The work you do will directly influence Nigeria’s economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability,” Nnaji said.
Constituted on October 17, 2024, by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), NEMiC is tasked with mobilising funding, investing in renewable energy infrastructure and overseeing projects in solar, wind, hydro, biomass and other emerging technologies. The committee will also drive the operationalisation of the National Energy Fund, designed as a “fund of funds” to channel resources into energy efficiency and infrastructure projects.
At the ceremony, ECN Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, who chairs the committee, submitted the implementation roadmap to the Minister. He outlined strategic steps to meet the Masterplan’s goals, including accelerating renewable deployment and expanding access to reliable power.
Nnaji pledged full government support. “The decisions and actions taken by this Committee will define Nigeria’s energy trajectory for decades to come. This is a responsibility of the highest order, and I am confident NEMiC has the capacity, the vision, and the commitment to rise to the occasion,” he said.
The event drew representatives from government, finance, and industry, including executives from Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Polaris Bank, Stanbic IBTC, First Trustees, CardinalStone, and global engineering firms such as China Machinery Engineering Co. (CMEC), Power China International Group, and Energy China. International development organisations, including UNIDO and UNDP also signaled support.
With over 80 million Nigerians lacking reliable electricity and more than 90 percent of households dependent on biomass for cooking, stakeholders said the Masterplan provides an opportunity to close long-standing energy gaps while unlocking new economic frontiers.
Committee members include Abdullahi as Chairman, Mr. Nurudeen Yakubu, Group CEO of Nor Group Ltd, as Co-Chairman, alongside Prof. Kassim Gidado, Dr. Robert Ngwu, Babangida Sabo, Adamu Suilaman of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and several directors from the ECN.
