Cheaper Airtime, Data in Sight as NCC, REA Sign Deal to Replace Diesel at Telecom Towers
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide renewable energy for telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, signed on Friday during the NCC-REA Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, is expected to enable telecom base stations to draw electricity from existing and planned mini-grids, reducing operating costs while expanding broadband access in underserved and off-grid communities.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said reliable electricity and digital connectivity are critical drivers of national development. Represented by the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, Maida said communities without stable electricity struggle to sustain telecommunications infrastructure, while those without connectivity are unable to maximise the benefits of electrification.
He explained that the partnership would integrate energy and telecommunications planning through the use of shared infrastructure, renewable energy and geospatial data to identify communities where electricity and broadband projects can be deployed simultaneously.
According to him, the collaboration will also allow telecom facilities such as base stations and fibre repeaters to receive stable electricity from REA’s off-grid projects, while telecom infrastructure can be co-located with energy facilities where feasible.
“The Commission can no longer achieve its mandate by working within the boundaries of telecommunications alone. Meaningful connectivity, particularly for underserved and rural communities, depends on coordinated action across energy, infrastructure, finance and policy,” Maida said.
Also speaking, REA Executive Director of Technical Services, Umar Abdullahi, described the high cost of diesel as one of the biggest obstacles to expanding telecommunications services across Nigeria.
He noted that renewable mini-grids provide a cleaner, cheaper and more reliable alternative for powering telecom towers, adding that the agency had already mapped telecom base stations against its mini-grid database to identify priority locations for integration.
Abdullahi said the agreement establishes a framework for migrating diesel-powered telecom towers to renewable energy, adding that existing mini-grids located near telecom infrastructure would begin supplying electricity immediately, while future projects would be developed to expand coverage.
Presenting the implementation roadmap, the Special Adviser (Technical) to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Sani-Abdullahi, said both agencies had completed site assessments, developed a digital implementation dashboard and confirmed the commercial viability of the initiative.
He added that the next phase would focus on pilot projects, performance monitoring, data standardisation and expanding access to electricity and digital connectivity, with the model expected to serve as a template for other African countries.