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IHS Nigeria, part of IHS Holdings, the global telecom infrastructure giant led by U.S.-Nigerian telecom tycoon Sam Darwish, said it has invested more than $750 million in solar and hybrid power projects over the past decade, underscoring its effort to cut emissions and expand renewable energy use across the country.
With more than 16,000 sites in Nigeria alone, the group says its investments reflect a long-term commitment to sustainability and environmental health. Chief Executive Mohamad Darwish spoke in Abuja during the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory. He said the company’s scale gives it a responsibility to act on climate change.
“Climate and environmental responsibility are central to our agenda,” he said. “Our investments in clean energy reflect that. Partnering with the FCT allows us to extend this impact, support healthier communities and contribute to Nigeria’s energy transition.”
Public-private collaboration
The agreement with the FCT’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat aims to promote clean energy use, reduce carbon footprints, and improve environmental standards in Abuja. Dolapo Fasawe, the mandate secretary of the secretariat, said the partnership demonstrates how government and private companies can work together on sustainability.
“There is no health without a clean environment,” she said. “Through this collaboration, we want to promote clean cooking alternatives, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and inspire other states to follow the FCT’s lead.”
Broader efforts
The deal builds on IHS Nigeria’s earlier initiatives, including the installation of four solar-powered boreholes in Maiduguri last year that now provide safe water to about 20,000 people displaced by floods.
Founded by Sam Darwish in 2001, IHS has grown into the world’s third-largest independent telecom tower company, managing more than 39,000 towers across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Darwish, who owns about 3.9 percent of the company, has over two decades of experience in the telecom sector and remains a key figure in Africa’s infrastructure buildout.
For the second quarter ending June 30, IHS reported revenue of $433.3 million, slightly below the $435.4 million posted in the same period a year earlier. IHS has continued to adjust its portfolio. In May, the company sold its Rwanda operations for $274.5 million, part of efforts to cut debt and reinvest in larger markets such as Nigeria and Brazil. Earlier this year, it raised $1.6 billion through a mix of syndicated loans and bonds, giving it more liquidity to manage currency swings and pursue growth.
