Nigeria’s $2bn Renewable Energy Investment Yields Only 76,000 Jobs

• …. As, REA Flags Local Capacity Gap

Dr. Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has disclosed that Nigeria’s renewable energy workforce participation remains significantly low, with the sector generating only about 70,000 jobs despite attracting over $2 billion in cumulative investment, compared to the 16.2 million jobs supported by the global solar industry.

The gap, according to the REA MD, underscores the urgent need for a deliberate shift toward local capacity development, warning that Nigeria cannot build a sustainable energy transition on permanent import dependence.

The REA MD made this known in his keynote address at the 2026 Oriental News Conference held in Lagos, on Thursday.

Aliyu who was represented by Gboyega Ayoade, Executive Director, Corporate Services, stressed that energy policy must double as industrial policy—driven by local participation rather than expatriate dominance.

He said, “As renewable energy deployment grows, we must also grow local capacity for assembly, manufacturing, installation, operation, maintenance, recycling and skills development.

“This is where the Nigeria First policy becomes important. Clean energy must become a platform for local content, job creation and industrial value capture.

“Every major renewable energy programme should ask a simple question: beyond supplying electricity, what domestic capacity does this project build?

“Does it create jobs for Nigerian engineers and technicians? Does it use local installers? Does it create demand for local assembly? Does it support Nigerian firms? Does it strengthen the supply chain? Does it improve skills and technology transfer?

“This is how clean energy becomes an industrial policy tool,” he stated.

He further noted that REA’s programmes are being repositioned to align with this approach, leveraging clean energy as a strategic industrial policy tool.

“REA’s programmes are increasingly being positioned within this logic. Largescale deployment creates predictable demand. Predictable demand gives confidence to manufacturers. Manufacturing creates jobs. Jobs expand incomes. And stronger local supply chains reduce costs over time.