The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has revealed that there is a huge potential in solar power generation through renewable energy resources as it is capable of providing the country with electricity supply throughout the seasons. The traditional use of thermal and hydro power stations for electricity generation failed to reach their objective of generating 6000 mega watts (MW) of electricity last December, therefore the government of Nigeria formed the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) which they thought was the best alternative to end the country’s electricity supply crisis. This plan would have a channel to control and utilize all renewable sources of energy like coal, wind, solar, bio fuel and biomass for the generation of power.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) did a recent study on the approximate daily solar radiation in Nigeria, which was based on NEXT investigations, which gave a suggestion towards an alternative source of electric supply which would work taking the average daily solar radiation on an annual basis and average daily sunshine on an annual basis. The conclusions derived from these investigations were that there was major difference in the annual average daily solar radiation in the country as it went as high as seven kilowatt-hr per square meter per day mainly in the northern border regions where as it went as low as 3.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day in the southern coastal regions, so the difference in variance of hours between northern boundaries and southern axis came to nine hours and four hours respectively.

Lanre Babalola, the Minister of Power showed interest in phasing out electricity generated from nation’s hydro and thermal power plants  as their main focus was to develop a framework towards energy obtained from renewable sources.
For the success of this project, the African Development Bank(ADB) have assured NERC towards the funding of solar, wind, hydro, landfill gas, geo-thermal and biomass renewable energy plants in the country.
According to Imamuddeen Talba, the government is determined towards the nations clean energy capacity and they would like to safeguard its renewable energy potentials. For this reason they have begun the process of setting up legal and regulatory framework for embedded generation of electricity as well as via Independent Electricity Distribution Networks. This initiative would work out flexible feed-in tariffs and other offers for the interests of investors and it would also assure a smooth operational  environment and also aid in the growth of distribution plants through which it would establish new ways of accessing electricity all over the nation. Independent contractors were issued operational licenses late last November from the regulatory commission with the aim of production and supply of electricity to manufacturing and industrial business premises all over the country. Various companies have received a total of 31 licenses so far which includes 23 reserved for the grid-connected, another 5 reserved for off-grid production and 2 for embedded and distribution.