Nigeria Energy 2025: Stakeholders Tackle $34.5bn Power Funding Gap as Lagos Hosts Landmark Energy Summit

Nigeria’s energy stakeholders are gathering in Lagos this week for Nigeria Energy 2025, a three-day summit aimed at addressing one of the sector’s biggest challenges — closing the $34.5 billion funding gap required to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. The event, which begins today at the Landmark Event Centre, Lekki, brings together policymakers, regulators, investors, and innovators under the theme “Powering Nigeria Through Investment, Innovation and Partnership.”

According to the organisers, the summit comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s power sector — one that demands not only sound policy but also coordinated efforts to attract capital, technology, and collaboration across all levels of the energy value chain. Now in its 12th edition, the forum has evolved from a trade exhibition into what organisers describe as “a powerhouse of policy dialogue and industry collaboration.”

Speaking ahead of the event, Ade Yesufu, Exhibition Director at Informa Markets, said the summit’s goal is to move the energy conversation “from policy to measurable outcomes.” He noted that since the Electricity Act 2023 replaced the 2005 law, Nigeria has made progress in decentralising power generation and distribution, allowing states to develop their own electricity markets. However, persistent financing bottlenecks, regulatory overlaps, and infrastructure deficits continue to hinder access to reliable power for millions.

The conference will open with a ministerial address by Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu and a keynote speech by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose state has taken early steps in creating its own electricity market. Key sessions include “PPP Power Play: Reshaping Nigeria’s Infrastructure Landscape”, which explores how public-private partnerships can unlock investment for energy projects, and “In Conversation with State Visionaries”, where energy leaders from Lagos, Enugu, and Oyo will discuss state-led electricity reforms.

Other highlights include a review of the Electricity Act’s progress and the launch of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, created to unbundle operations from transmission and promote a competitive power market. The second day will focus on mobilising $34.5bn in capital investment, featuring sessions such as “Energy Investment Ignited” and “Mission 300: Unlocking Large-Scale Infrastructure Investment.”

The final day will turn to gas and clean energy, spotlighting Nigeria’s dual-transition strategy. Sessions like “Power Generation in Transition” and “Clean Cooking – The Often-Forgotten Energy Access Pillar” will highlight the need to expand access beyond electricity to sustainable household energy solutions.

Supported by major sponsors including Skipper (Main Sponsor), Genesis (Headline Sponsor), Eauxwell (Associate Sponsor), GIZ (Strategic Partner), and Sentry (Support Partner), the summit underscores growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy future.

Concluding the briefing, Yesufu stated, “Nigeria Energy 2025 is where policy, innovation, and investment converge. Every conversation here is anchored on one goal — to turn ideas into projects and projects into progress.”