The study investigates the relationship between renewable energy and sustainable development in Nigeria from 1980 to 2022. Its objectives include examining the impact of renewable energy consumption, gross domestic product (GDP), investment in renewable energy infrastructure, government expenditure, and population growth on sustainable development in the country. The study employs Johansen co-integration tests and error correction models as estimation techniques. The findings reveal significant positive impacts of renewable energy consumption, GDP, investment in renewable energy infrastructure, and government expenditure on sustainable development in Nigeria, while no significant effect was identified for population growth. The paper concludes that renewable energy consumption, GDP, infrastructure investment, and government spending are critical for advancing sustainable development in Nigeria, noting challenges in incorporating private sector contributions and addressing regional disparities. To enhance outcomes, the paper recommends prioritizing energy efficiency alongside renewable energy initiatives, fostering public-private partnerships to boost funding and expertise, adapting government spending to accommodate external economic factors, conducting comprehensive policy evaluations for better decision-making, and ensuring equitable access to renewable energy resources across all regions of Nigeria to address existing disparities.