Nigeria Rejoins JPMorgan Bond Index, Eyes $17.5bn Foreign Investment
By GLEBM News Desk
Nigeria has recorded more than five million new off-grid electricity connections between 2025 and 2026, highlighting the accelerating role of distributed solar power in expanding electricity access across the country.
The growth reflects increasing reliance on decentralised energy solutions as households, businesses and communities seek alternatives to limitations within the conventional electricity grid.
The expansion is being supported by government-backed programmes and private-sector investment in solar home systems, productive-use equipment and other renewable-energy solutions.
One of the major interventions is the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme, which provides capital support to renewable-energy companies deploying systems in underserved and low-income communities.
The programme is backed by a $750 million World Bank facility, with subsidies designed to help reduce the cost of renewable-energy systems for consumers.
Beyond household electricity, off-grid solutions are increasingly being deployed to support businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and productive activities that require reliable power.
New solar-powered equipment entering the Nigerian market is also targeting businesses that depend heavily on electricity for refrigeration, processing, communications and other commercial activities.
The rapid growth of distributed energy is significant for Nigeria’s economic development because unreliable electricity has long increased operating costs for businesses and constrained productivity.
However, affordability remains a major challenge. Many households and small businesses still struggle to finance solar equipment despite the expansion of pay-as-you-go and instalment-based financing models.
The five-million-connection milestone demonstrates that solar energy is becoming an increasingly important component of Nigeria’s electricity mix. Sustaining the momentum will require affordable financing, stronger distribution networks, consumer protection and continued investment in renewable-energy infrastructure.
