Experts tell FG to attract UAE capital for power grid

Nigeria should seek to attract a significant portion of the United Arab Emirates’ $71.32billion investment in Sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen its power infrastructure, energy sector experts have said.

The call followed Nigeria’s recent participation at Middle East Energy 2026 in Dubai, where the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, highlighted the country’s commitment to developing infrastructure needed to strengthen energy security.

The three-day Middle East Energy 2026 event brought together more than 1,500 exhibitors and participants from over 120 countries, with discussions covering power generation, renewable energy, grids, storage, digitalisation and energy security.

For Nigeria, its participation provided an opportunity to present the country’s power infrastructure requirements to an international audience of investors, technology companies and energy businesses.

The UAE has identified renewable energy, infrastructure and digital innovation as priority areas for long-term investment and sustainable development in Africa.

The UAE Minister of State, Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, said in August that the country invested about $71.32billion in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2021 and 2025.

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He also disclosed that the UAE had committed more than $70billion to renewable and green energy projects across the continent through initiatives such as Masdar’s $10billion programme and the Etihad 7 platform.

Reacting to the development, the National Secretary of the Network for Electricity Consumers Advocacy of Nigeria, Uket Obonga, said Nigeria should seek to attract part of the funds into the country, particularly for the development of its electricity infrastructure.

“So, should the government actually look at attracting part of that fund to Nigeria? Certainly, that could be one reason for the minister’s visit. The minister should be looking at whether we can attract part of that said $70billion to Nigeria,” Obonga said.

He said Nigeria could target about 10 per cent of the investment, which would amount to about $7billion, arguing that such funding could significantly improve the country’s electricity infrastructure if properly deployed.

“If Nigeria is given about 10 per cent of that money, that would be about $7billion. If Nigeria gets about $7billion and half of that money is invested in the grid network, it will go a long way towards addressing the problem,” he said.

Obonga said part of the funds could be invested in strengthening the capacity of existing distribution and grid networks, expanding network infrastructure and replacing obsolete distribution network equipment, including meters and other equipment.

He, however, urged the Federal Government and the Minister of Power to clearly communicate to Nigerians what was being pursued and how any funds attracted from the UAE would be used.

“But the government and the minister should come out clearly and let Nigerians know what is happening when they do that, so that we can understand where the money is going and what it is intended to achieve,” Obonga said.

Tegbe had used his participation at Middle East Energy 2026 in Dubai to highlight Nigeria’s commitment to building infrastructure required to strengthen energy security.

Speaking at the event, he said stronger energy systems would require investment not only in physical infrastructure, but also in institutions and international cooperation.

“Storms we cannot forecast will come, but history teaches that energy security has never been won by those who retreated behind their borders. It has been won by those who built grids, pipelines, ports, institutions, and above all, trust. Nigeria has chosen to build. Africa has chosen to build,” Tegbe said.

The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, also called for greater cooperation among governments, industry, investors, technology companies and financial institutions.

He highlighted investment in electricity interconnectivity as important to improving energy security and enabling cleaner energy to move more effectively across borders.
The development comes against the backdrop of the UAE’s growing investment and economic engagement with Africa.

According to Al Hajeri, the UAE’s investments in infrastructure and logistics were being expanded through DP World, AD Ports Group and financing from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

He said the investments were expected to improve transport networks, reduce the cost of doing business, expand access to electricity, create jobs and promote technology and skills transfer across African countries.

“Our investments are not just balance-sheet numbers. They translate into infrastructure that lowers the cost of doing business, clean power reaching homes, schools and businesses, new jobs, investment flowing into local industries, and the transfer of technology and skills to support long-term growth,” Al Hajeri said.

Meanwhile, the Convener of PowerUp, Adetayo Adegbemle, said the Federal Government should also prioritise improvements to the national grid and work towards bringing industrial consumers back to the electricity network.

He explained that the grid was designed to transmit large quantities of electricity over long distances at a low cost, but the departure of heavy electricity users had affected the cost burden on other consumers.
“Now, part of the reasons why our grid power supply is becoming more expensive is because all the heavy lifters, heavy users that are supposed to pay or subsidise other smaller consumers, are no longer on the grid,” he noted.

Adegbemle said the government must develop measures to encourage manufacturers to return to the grid while addressing the rising cost of electricity supply.