Nigeria is taking steps to reduce the cost of expanding digital infrastructure through a new partnership between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 24 to coordinate the deployment of telecommunications and energy infrastructure, with a focus on using renewable energy to improve connectivity in underserved communities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, said the agreement establishes a framework for joint planning, infrastructure sharing, and data exchange between both agencies.
The partnership comes as telecommunications operators continue to grapple with rising operating costs, particularly due to their reliance on diesel-powered generators to keep base stations running in areas with unstable electricity supply.
Under the agreement, the REA will provide geospatial data on existing and planned electrification projects, while the NCC will share information on broadband projects implemented through its Universal Service Provision Fund. The shared data will help identify communities where electricity and connectivity gaps overlap.
The agencies also plan to explore the use of REA-developed renewable energy projects to power telecommunications infrastructure, including base stations and fibre repeater sites. In addition, telecom operators may be able to deploy network equipment on REA energy assets where feasible.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, said reliable electricity and digital connectivity are essential to national development.
“Reliable electricity and digital connectivity are not two separate development goals. They are mutually reinforcing foundations of the same objective that produces an inclusive and productive economy,” he said.
According to the NCC, communities without dependable electricity often struggle to sustain telecommunications infrastructure, while areas lacking internet connectivity are unable to fully benefit from electrification projects.
The REA said the collaboration also creates opportunities to expand the commercial use of renewable energy beyond household electrification. Its Executive Director for Technical Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar, noted that renewable energy mini-grids could provide a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to diesel-powered telecom sites.
“Reliable power and universal connectivity are not competing priorities. They are the same priority, approached from two directions,” Umar said.
The partnership was announced during the NCC–REA Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja, themed “Unlocking the Energy–Telecoms Nexus for Scalable Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria.” The event brought together telecom operators, tower companies, renewable energy developers, financiers, and government officials.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to expand broadband access, strengthen rural infrastructure, and support Nigeria’s growing digital economy. By integrating renewable energy planning with telecommunications expansion, regulators aim to lower deployment costs and improve the long-term sustainability of connectivity projects across the country.
