Telecom base stations to migrate from diesel to renewable energy
…as NCC, REA ink MoU
By Firdaus Jibril
In a major push to drastically cut operational costs and reduce reliance on expensive diesel generators, telecom base stations across Nigeria are set to transition to renewable energy following a strategic partnership between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The move was formalized on Friday in Abuja with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the NCC-REA Stakeholder Forum.
Under the agreement, telecom infrastructure will be integrated into existing and planned mini-grids, expanding digital connectivity and clean power to underserved and unserved communities.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Technical Services at the REA, Umar Abdullahi, highlighted that the soaring cost of diesel remains a primary bottleneck preventing operators from expanding network coverage, particularly in rural regions.
“Nigeria’s digital economy rests on a physical foundation, and that foundation is power.”
“A telecommunications tower is a near-perfect anchor load steady, twenty-four hours a day, creditworthy, and contractually reliable. A mini-grid is a cheaper, cleaner, and more predictable source of power than a diesel generator refuelled by road. Bringing them together improves the economics on both sides of the meter,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi revealed that both agencies have already mapped telecom base stations against the REA’s mini-grid database to pinpoint priority locations where diesel-dependent towers can be immediately migrated to renewable energy sources.
“There are priority sites that have already been established. You have towers that are relying on diesel right now, and we’re trying to move them to be powered by mini-grids. That way, having cheaper and cleaner energy will bring down the cost of operation of these towers, and it will also expand coverage to Nigerians,” he added.
Reiterating the project’s fast-tracked timeline, Executive Commissioner of Technical Services at the NCC, Abraham Oshadami who represented the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida noted that the transition will begin immediately for sites in close proximity to functional mini-grids.
“It’s immediate. They have identified where you have mini-grids already in place and where the base stations are. Those that are very close now will start to enjoy it, and those that are still in the pipeline will also benefit as future projects are planned,” Oshadami stated.
Delivering Maida’s speech, Oshadami emphasized that powering telecom facilities including base stations and fiber repeaters via renewable grids addresses the twin challenges of energy deficit and poor connectivity in one stroke.
“Reliable electricity and digital connectivity are not two separate development goals. They both share mutually complementary objectives that produce an inclusive and productive economy.”
“A community without power struggles to sustain connectivity infrastructure, and a community without connectivity struggles to fully benefit from the power it receives,” Maida said.
He added that sharing geospatial data between both agencies will ensure telecom towers and energy infrastructure are co-deployed in future development phases, moving away from isolated sectoral strategies.
Detailing the rollout roadmap, Dr. Umar Sani-Abdullahi, Special Adviser (Technical) to the NCC EVC, confirmed that site assessments, commercial viability checks, and a digital implementation dashboard have already been completed.
The project now enters its pilot partnership and performance monitoring phase, serving as a potential blueprint for green telecom infrastructure across the African continent.