By 
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee. NCC is aiming to advance Nigeria’s broadband penetration and rural electrification goals through renewable energy solutions for telecom infrastructure.
RELATED: Nigeria accelerates rural connectivity drive: Tinubu’s govt partners ITU, UK to bridge digital divide
This development stems from a strategic partnership between the NCC and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The federal body is responsible for promoting and delivering electricity access to underserved communities across Nigeria.
Both parties held an inauguration ceremony recently in Abuja presided over by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC. He was joined by Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO of REA, with participation from senior officials of both agencies.
Dr. Maida emphasized that the collaboration is a strategic alignment of digital and energy inclusion objectives. The collaboration is designed to address the critical gaps in telecom connectivity and power access in remote areas.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities. It’s about inclusion, equality, and creating shared prosperity—especially in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Maida said.
He urged committee members to bring clarity, innovation, and measurable impact to their assignment, noting that telecom services cannot thrive without reliable energy, and that renewable energy networks benefit from the expanding footprint of digital infrastructure.
In his remarks, Mr. Aliyu of REA reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to integrated rural development, citing the collaboration as a model for delivering sustainable energy and digital access to millions living outside the reach of traditional infrastructure.
The newly inaugurated NCC–REA Collaboration Committee is tasked with:
- Co-developing integrated energy-digital infrastructure strategies
- Powering telecom base stations with renewable energy
- Sharing geospatial and infrastructure planning data
- Aligning funding mechanisms for cross-sectoral development
- Tracking socio-economic impact using robust KPIs
This joint effort is aligned with the National Broadband Plan and Nigeria’s sustainable development strategy, and is expected to serve as a model for effective inter-agency collaboration in accelerating rural transformation.
