GIZ Advances Renewable Energy Transition In Nigeria

The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition and facilitating the smooth importation of clean energy components.

At a recent stakeholders’ consultative forum in Lagos, Dr. Markus Wagner, Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Duke Benjamin, highlighted the crucial role played by the Nigeria Customs Service in driving Nigeria’s sustainable development goals and advancing the country’s energy transition.

Dr. Wagner emphasized that the implementation of the Advance Ruling Systems has significantly simplified the importation process for renewable energy equipment, thereby directly aiding Nigeria’s ambitious green energy transformation.

He stated, “The strategic partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and GIZ is significant in our shared journey toward sustainable development. Through the successful launch of the Advance Ruling Systems, we have substantially simplified customs processes for importing clean energy components, directly supporting Nigeria’s ambitious green energy transformation.”

“With the valuable support of our commissioning parties, our collaboration has already delivered tangible results: shorter customs clearance times and reduced administrative burdens for clean energy importers. Today’s launch of the handbook on import and export procedures for renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies represents another pivotal step toward enhancing the ease of doing business across Nigerian borders.

“Our collaborative sensitisation programmes for importers and customs officers on renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies classification and valuation have significantly improved operational efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance. Complementing these efforts, your digital reforms in documentation and processing have accelerated trade in sustainable energy products throughout Nigeria.”

The GIZ official emphasized that beyond modernizing customs procedures, the agency’s technical support to the Nigerian government spans critical areas such as robust capacity-building programs, strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing human resource capabilities across ministries, and facilitating knowledge transfer to promote sustainable development across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Specifically in the energy sector, GIZ has contributed to boosting technical expertise essential for developing renewable energy policies, supporting the establishment of rural mini-grids, and improving energy efficiency standards nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Power has praised the Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP) implemented by GIZ for its role in advancing renewable energy trade facilitation in the country.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Mamman, represented by Ben Ayangegor, highlighted that these improvements in trade facilitation will help Nigeria achieve its ambitious Vision 30:30:30 , a target to generate 30 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, with renewable energy accounting for 30 percent of the mix.

He remarked, “It is commendable that, with support from the Nigeria Energy Support Programme implemented by GIZ, the Nigeria Customs Service is advancing trade facilitation on renewable energy equipment as envisioned by the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy.”

“The Federal Ministry of Power fully supports these initiatives, which align with the NREEEP and significantly contribute to achieving Nigeria’s energy security goals, its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement, and its net-zero targets,” he said.

The PS charged the Finance Ministry to establish a task force that would expedite the importation and exportation process of renewable energy equipment.

The task force, which is to be headed by the Comptroller General of Customs, would “expedite the screening process for RE and EE components entering or leaving the country, streamline cumbersome customs procedures related to renewable energy imports, provide staff training on product quality and incentive application, and develop a specialised Harmonised System Code for renewable energy equipment.”

Earlier, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, highlighted that the Customs Service is collaborating closely with stakeholders to ease the importation of renewable energy technologies while enforcing fiscal policies aimed at discouraging fossil fuel dependency.

Represented by the Deputy Customs Comptroller General for Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, Adeniyi explained that these efforts are designed to support Nigeria’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by reducing associated costs.