Nigeria requires about 31,210 MW of electricity daily to meet its energy needs, yet its average generation capacity between March 2005 and September 2024 was just 7,111 MW. In Q2 of 2024, the total energy generated from natural gas was just 5,613 MW, which is way below the national requirement. These numbers highlight a crucial energy deficit; therefore, the need to increase Nigeria’s production capacity and diversify the country’s energy mix by opting for viable renewable alternatives, such as wind and solar.
Figure 1. Nigeria’s Electricity Production Profile
State of Wind Energy in Nigeria
Wind energy is a clean and sustainable power source generated when wind turns large blades connected to a generator mounted on a tall tower. The wind turbine comprises a rotor blade, a nacelle (which houses the gearbox and generator), a tower to mount the turbine and a concrete foundation. The tower is a long hub that supports the nacelle and blades.
Wind energy installations have grown significantly each year (Figure 2), making it the world’s second-fastest-growing renewable energy source after solar energy. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Nigeria has a moderate wind energy potential of approximately 3,200 MW, with average wind speeds ranging from 2.1 meters per second to 8 meters per second (m/s). However, according to the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roadmap, there are speculations that the wind energy potential might surpass 4000 MW per day.
Figure. 2: Global Wind Energy Power Capacity Additions
The southern part of the country has inadequate wind resources, except for coastal and offshore regions such as Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states. However, there is currently no comprehensive mapping of wind potential in the southern region, although the Federal Ministry of Power reports that this is underway. Although wind speeds in southern Nigeria are moderate, they can still support small-scale, off-grid energy solutions. On the other hand, the northern states have the fastest speeds, surpassing 7 m/s, with promising potentials in states like Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, and Mambilla in Taraba state.
Existing Wind Projects in Nigeria
Figure 3: Lambar Rimi Wind Energy Site, Katsina, Nigeria.
- The Lambar Rimi Wind Farm: This project was one of the early and significant wind farm projects conceived not only in Nigeria, but also in West Africa as a whole. With an expected total energy capacity of 10 MW, the project was initiated by the late former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, then the state governor, in 2005. The project was then passed to the federal government when he became the president in 2007. In 2009, it was awarded to Vergnet, a French company. After over 10 years of construction, the wind farm became operational in 2020 but shut down shortly after due to concerns about insecurity and corruption. This ₦4.4 billion project could have served as a renewable energy model for subsequent wind farms in Nigeria and a solution to Lambar Rimi village's electricity issues, as 10 MW of electricity is sufficient to power approximately 10,000 rural homes and 2,000 urban homes.
Katsina State's current governor plans to revitalise the project and has since secured 60% of the project funds through grants. In April 2025, AGRONigeria reported that the Katsina state government had signed a $500 million contract with Genesis Energy Group to revive and expand the project by introducing a hybrid model that incorporates solar power. The hybridisation will increase the energy generation capacity to power an additional 4,400 homes and also bolster times when the wind speed is very low, allowing the turbines to operate.
- Sayya Gidan Gada Small Utility Wind Project: The wind turbines were deployed in 1996 by the then Sokoto Energy Research Centre, according to Engineer Abubakar Tambuwal, who led the centre and also served as acting MD of the Transmission Commission of Nigeria. He shared this in TrustTV’s documentary, The Forgotten Wind Farm in Katsina. These wind turbines were deployed in 1996 by the then Sokoto Energy Research Centre. There were two demonstration turbines for small-scale utility purposes. At the time, each turbine had a generation capacity of 250 kW of electricity, totalling 500 kW. The electricity generated was used to power the village of Sayya Gidan Gada. The project has been hybridised with solar energy and powers the Usman Dan-Fodio University, Sokoto.
Cost Breakdown of Wind Energy Projects
As the global shift toward cleaner energy accelerates, wind power is gaining momentum, attracting increased investor funding. However, investments cannot occur without an extensive cost-benefit analysis. The financial cost of deploying wind energy systems depends on investment costs, energy generation capacity (based on wind resource potential), project lifecycle, capital expenditure (CAPEX), and operational and maintenance (O&M) expenses. The CAPEX, which is the initial upfront cost, takes between 64% and 84% of the total expenditures incurred during installation. Wind energy system capital costs fall under the following categories:
- The turbine cost: This varies according to energy output. It can range from as little as $200 to > $13,000 (Figure 4). Some turbines cost much more than that.
- Site preparation and construction cost
- Cost of grid connection
- Project development costs, including consultancy and control systems, etc.
Figure 4. Prices of Different Wind Turbine Models
The total average cost of installed onshore wind projects was recorded to be $ 1154 per KW in 2023. However, this cost varies by region or country. The weighted average installed cost of onshore wind power projects ranges from $ 986/kW to $ 2,019/kW for different countries, with China having the cheapest. The cost of installation in Africa ranges from $ 1,432/kW to $ 1,988/kW, with a weighted average of $ 1,614/kW.
The cost breakdown of offshore wind energy projects is nearly double that of their onshore counterparts. This is due to higher costs for installation, foundations, general operations, and maintenance. The weighted average installed cost of offshore wind power projects ranges from $ 2,370/kW to $ 6,964/kW for different countries, with China having the lowest cost.
The benefits of a wind power plant are determined by its Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE). LCOE is the financial metric used to determine whether an energy project is profitable or not. It is calculated by dividing the net present value of the total cost over lifetime by the net present value of electrical energy produced over time. Although there has been a sharp decline in LCOE over the years, wind plants still record profits. The LCOE for onshore power was recorded to be between $ 0.025/kW and $0.091 /kW in 2023, and that of offshore ranges between $ 0.078/ KW and $ 0.211/kWh.
Building a Local Supply Chain
Beyond using its wind energy for power generation, Nigeria can also position itself as a hub for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or assembly plants. The wind energy market is projected to reach $318 million by 2034 (Figure 5). Additionally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a cumulative addition of 1058 GW of both offshore and onshore wind energy by 2030. On the other hand, wind turbines established globally are nearing the end of their lifecycle, hence the need for more turbines in the market. With these significant projections for wind turbine market growth, local participation in wind farm development will help reduce production costs, increase export gains, and boost the nation’s socio-economic development by providing employment opportunities and attracting foreign direct investment.
Figure 5: Wind Turbine Market Size
Nigeria is rich in mineral resources that have the potential to significantly boost its energy sector, particularly in renewable technologies such as wind energy. A typical wind turbine consists of several components: rotor blades, a nacelle (which houses the gearbox and generator), a tower made of steel and concrete, and a foundation. The tower, usually built from steel—a product of iron ore—is supported by materials Nigeria has in abundance. Other components, such as nacelles, gearboxes, and rotor blades, could also be manufactured locally. To learn more, read our article on The Role of Nigeria’s Critical Minerals in Global Energy Transition.
Despite the current electricity supply deficit, Nigeria remains the largest energy supplier in West Africa. Developing the country's wind energy market and creating local content will boost clean energy access not only here, but also in neighbouring countries through international electricity trades, and the export of turbine components to primary wind energy markets.
References
Attabo, A. A., Ajayi, O. O., Oyedepo, S. O., & Afolalu, S. A. (2023). Assessment of the wind energy potential and economic viability of selected sites along Nigeria’s coastal and offshore locations. Frontiers in Energy Research, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1186095
Bhandari, S. (2024, June 26). Renewable energy in Nigeria – Projects, investments, and future prospects. BusinessDay NG. https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/renewable-energy-in-nigeria-projects-investments-and-future-prospects/
International Renewable Energy Agency, Gsänger, S., Sawyer, S., Januario, C. S., Taylor, M., & Gielen, D. (2012). Renewable energy technologies: Cost analysis series. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2012/RE_Technologies_Cost_Analysis-WIND_POWER.pdf
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2023). Renewable power generation costs. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2024/Sep/IRENA_Renewable_power_generation_costs_in_2023.pdf
Nigeria Energy & Utilities. (2023). Renewable Energy Roadmap Nigeria. https://www.nigeria-energy.com/content/dam/markets/emea/nigeria-energy/en/2023/docs/NE23-NigeriaEnergyRoadmap-Report.pdf
Odeyemi, N. (2024, December 5). Katsina State unveils plans to revive 10MW wind farm and launch solar project. The Electricity Hub. https://theelectricityhub.com/the-katsina-state-government-plans-to-revive-the-10mw-wind-farm-in-lambar-rimi-whistatech-has-been-non-functional-for-nearly-20-years/
Stears. (2022, September 26). The untapped potential of Nigeria’s wind energy. https://www.stears.co/article/the-untapped-potential-of-nigerian-wind-farms/
TrustTV. (2025, March 16). The forgotten wind farm in Katsina [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8N-5_9Cp3c
Veriv Africa. (2024). Wind energy as a carbon capture mechanism in Nigeria. https://www.verivafrica.com/insights/wind-energy-as-a-carbon-capture-mechanism-in-nigeria
