Instead of viewing Nigeria’s electricity shortfall as a crisis, energy leaders are urging investors to see it as one of Africa’s biggest business opportunities. At the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2025 International Business Conference & Expo, Ronald Adams, Chairman of All On and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), argued that closing the gap could unlock $10–20 billion in new investments.
Adams noted that while more than 80 million Nigerians still lack access to reliable electricity, the unmet demand represents a thriving market for off-grid innovations like mini-grids, solar systems, and clean cooking solutions.
Since its establishment in 2016, Shell-backed All On has already committed over $40 million across 50 projects, providing clean energy access to 1.2 million people in nearly 200 underserved communities. Adams, who recently became chairman of the board, said these results show how targeted investments can deliver both impact and returns.
He called on both local and foreign investors to look beyond Nigeria’s power deficit and instead position themselves in the sectors that will benefit most from energy expansion — including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and finance.
The government’s rollout of Investopedia, a platform showcasing opportunities across all 36 states, was also praised as a step toward making Nigeria’s renewable energy space more attractive to global capital.
“The gap is real, but so is the potential,” Adams said. “Together, we can turn Nigeria’s energy challenge into one of the continent’s most transformative investment stories.”
