The Green Finance Investment Facility (GFiF), a blended finance platform designed to mobilise large-scale private and institutional investment into distributed renewable energy infrastructure across Nigeria, has officially launched with plans to raise $188 million to finance 191 megawatts of distributed solar capacity nationwide.
The facility, led by Barton Heyman Limited in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), UK PACT, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), and ARM Harith Infrastructure Investment Limited (ARMHIIL), is expected to support households, businesses, and underserved communities through expanded access to decentralised renewable energy solutions.
The initiative also aligns with the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) programme, a national strategy aimed at improving electricity access through renewable energy deployment across Nigeria.
The platform was formally unveiled in Lagos on May 7, 2026, bringing together financial institutions, renewable energy developers, policymakers, and development finance stakeholders focused on accelerating investment into Nigeria’s clean energy sector.
What stakeholders are saying
Speaking at the launch, Managing Partner of Barton Heyman Limited, Olumide Lala, described the initiative as a scalable private-sector financing model capable of unlocking significant capital for Nigeria’s energy transition.
▪ He said the facility would directly support more than one million Nigerians by expanding access to distributed renewable energy infrastructure.
▪ According to him, the platform combines sovereign pipelines, results-based funding, and commercial lending structures to attract private capital into the sector.
▪ “The Green Finance Investment Facility is more than a financing arrangement; it represents direct support for over one million Nigerians,” Lala stated.
▪ He added that the pilot phase represents the first step toward a broader ambition to mobilise $40 billion to finance 20 gigawatts of distributed renewable energy capacity nationwide.
Senior Partner at Barton Heyman, Anthony Feyitimi, said the platform was designed not only to support clean energy deployment but also to strengthen economic productivity and improve operational efficiency for businesses and communities.
▪ “Every megawatt we finance is a business that can operate, a supply chain that can function, a community that can compete,” he said.
More insights
Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the initiative addresses one of the biggest obstacles limiting renewable energy deployment in Nigeria — access to financing.
▪ According to him, the partnership was established to ensure communities without reliable electricity can gain access to sustainable power solutions.
▪ “The Green Finance Investment Facility can tackle access to finance, one of the main barriers to renewable energy deployment,” he stated.
FCMB also reaffirmed its commitment to financing renewable energy infrastructure and expanding electricity access across underserved communities.
▪ George Ogbonnaya, Senior Vice President and Divisional Head of Business Banking Group at FCMB, disclosed that the bank has committed ₦100 billion in debt financing to support the DARES programme.
▪ He said FCMB is currently financing more than eight developers under the DARES isolated mini-grid Performance-Based Grant programme and is finalising funding arrangements for seven additional developers.
▪ The bank further disclosed that it has already financed more than 42 mini-grid projects and is supporting efforts to connect over two million households nationwide.
Chief Investment Officer at ARMHIIL, Derek Chime, called for stronger collaboration among investors, financial institutions, and policymakers to unlock more capital for renewable energy infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Mission at the British High Commission in Lagos, Simon Field, reaffirmed UK PACT’s support for strengthening Nigeria’s green finance ecosystem and accelerating renewable energy adoption.
Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, Titilayo Oshodi, also stressed the importance of coordinated investment, innovation, and policy alignment in achieving sustainable energy access across the country.
What you should know
Nigeria continues to face significant electricity access challenges, with millions of households and businesses still lacking reliable power supply.
▪ Stakeholders at the launch noted that blended finance platforms such as GFiF are critical to reducing investment risks and attracting long-term institutional capital into the renewable energy sector.
▪ The initiative is expected to support Nigeria’s broader clean energy transition goals while helping expand electricity access in rural and peri-urban communities.
▪ The facility’s long-term ambition is to mobilise up to $40 billion in financing and support the deployment of 20 gigawatts of distributed renewable energy infrastructure nationwide.
