​UK, Nigeria Mobilise Private Capital For Three Hydropower Projects in Oyo, Kano, and Plateau

The United Kingdom and Nigerian governments have launched a coordinated campaign to attract private investment into three small hydropower pilot projects across Oyo, Kano, and Plateau states. The initiative is aimed at expanding electricity generation, stabilizing regional grids, and powering underserved rural communities.
​Supported by the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) Clean Energy Transition Programme, the effort focuses on the development and rehabilitation of:
​The Ikere Gorge project in Oyo State;The Ghari Dam in Kano State; and ​The historical NESCO hydropower cascade in Plateau State.
​The projects formed the core focus of an investor roundtable in Abuja, where financiers, developers, and policymakers gathered to move the assets from technical preparation toward financial close.
​Implemented by Africa PPP Advisory (AP3) and Ratio Consulting, technical preparations for the sites have encompassed feasibility studies, dam safety evaluations, environmental and social safeguards, energy audits, and transaction structuring.
​Dr. Gori Olusina Daniel, Programme Director of the UK PACT initiative and Managing Partner of Africa PPP Advisory, highlighted that integrating solar energy with traditional run-of-river hydro assets dramatically improves seasonal reliability and overall generation capacity.
​Ikere Gorge (Oyo State): Dormant for decades, technical studies indicate up to 14MW of hydro capacity, which will be expanded to a 100MW hydro-solar hybrid system alongside concessionaire Quaint Energy and the Oyo State Government.
​NESCO Cascade (Plateau State): First established in 1929, the eight-dam, eight-station cascade has an installed capacity of 25.5MW constrained by aging infrastructure. The rehabilitation plan aims to restore hydro output to 40.25MW and add solar integration to achieve an aggregate potential of up to 100MW.
​Ghari Dam (Kano State): Studies recommend establishing a 1.6MW hydropower unit combined with a 2MW solar array linked directly to an industrial anchor load.
​British Deputy High Commissioner Vicky Seymour reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to unlocking renewable energy across Nigeria by bridging technical preparation with commercial capital.
​Representing Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Martin Olajide, noted that the Electricity Act 2023 provides a modernized regulatory framework empowering state electricity markets and private sector power generation.
​The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), represented by Jaafar Dikko, underscored that Nigeria possesses over 3,500 megawatts of untapped small hydropower potential. The agency pledged public-private partnership support to convert existing dams into functional power hubs for mini-grids, waterworks, and agro-processing clusters.
​The summit also unveiled the zero draft of Nigeria’s National Small Hydropower Policy alongside a Small Hydropower Deployment Toolkit designed to assist state governments, project sponsors, and financiers.