NCC, REA Team Up for Rural Inclusion; But When Will Action Start?

L – R: NCC Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Barr. Rimini Makama; Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Abba Abubakar; Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida; and Executive Director Technical Services of REA, Engr. Abdullahi Umar; during the inauguration of the NCC-REA Collaboration Committee last Friday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja

In a development that caught the attention of industry stakeholders and rural advocates alike, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have inaugurated a joint committee aimed at accelerating digital and energy inclusion in Nigeria’s underserved regions. However, critics were quick to point out the absence of clear timelines or action plans for the initiative’s rollout, raising fresh concerns about implementation.

Announcing the collaboration on Wednesday, the NCC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, said the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee was set up to develop frameworks for deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure, especially in rural communities that lack reliable access to both energy and connectivity.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria,” the statement read.

The committee’s inauguration took place on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the NCC headquarters in Abuja. Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, presided over the event, joined by the Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, as well as senior officials and committee members from both agencies.

Describing the collaboration as a “strategic alignment of national priorities,” Dr. Maida said the partnership was timely, focusing on two of Nigeria’s most critical development needs: closing the digital divide and improving energy access for rural communities.

But despite the bold ambitions outlined, observers were quick to flag what they called a familiar oversight — no clear timeline or execution roadmap was announced. This omission has fueled skepticism among stakeholders, many of whom fear the initiative may stall without a structured implementation plan.

Reactions from industry experts, project developers, and rural community leaders were mixed. While some welcomed the initiative as a long-overdue step in addressing Nigeria’s rural infrastructure gaps, others warned that without defined timelines and accountability mechanisms, the collaboration could follow the path of similar projects that failed to progress beyond the launch stage.

Stakeholders emphasized the need for transparency, actionable timelines, and measurable targets, calling on both the NCC and REA to translate the committee’s work into visible outcomes that directly impact rural communities.

As Nigeria continues its journey toward digital and energy inclusion, the success of the NCC-REA partnership will be measured not just by policy documents and committee meetings, but by the real-world transformation of rural areas that remain cut off from the benefits of modern connectivity and sustainable energy.

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