More than 40% of Nigerians now have access to up to 20 hours of electricity per day, according to a statement made on Sunday by Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power.
He claims that the ministry’s innovative initiatives, which were supported by President Bola Tinubu, are responsible for this accomplishment, which was made possible in less than a year.
The main accomplishment is that we now produce more than 5,500 megawatts of power, transmit and distribute it, and more than 40% of consumers nationwide have access to reliable power for more than 20 hours each day.
You can see that things have much improved since we arrived, and we plan to keep making improvements, he stated.
He stated that the ministry’s actions are in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to boost industrialisation through reliable electricity supply.
Adelabu emphasised the vital connection between developed countries’ economic prosperity and reliable power. He declared, “This is the reason we say that we must achieve this for Nigeria as a country.” He emphasised the ministry’s goal of supplying dependable energy to homes, companies, and institutions in order to promote employment growth and improve operational capability.
He reflected on the advancements made by the ministry from the start of the government and stated that installed generation capacity had grown from 13,000 megawatts to over 14,000 megawatts.
He said that upgrades to already-existing infrastructure and the construction of new hydroelectric power plants had made this feasible.
“With the addition of the recently commissioned Zungeru hydroelectric power plant and the increased capacity of some of the existing power plants, our installed capacity is over 14,000 megawatts of power,” he said.
The minister outlined the calculated steps that have been made to enhance the electricity industry, such as the ratification of the new Electricity Act of 2023, which liberalises and decentralises the industry.
He also emphasised the need to create a thorough policy framework in order to improve market liquidity and sector performance.
Adelabu identified infrastructural upgrades as a crucial aspect in the progress made. “The electricity we have today is not an accident. It’s because of all the transformers and mobile substations we’ve commissioned and placed,” he explained.
Furthermore, he stated that the Presidential Metering Initiative, which intends to install more than 10 million meters in five years, is another way the ministry is attempting to bridge the meter gap.
The Minister declared that the Distribution Recovery Program of the World Bank is helping with these initiatives.
“At the end of the day, a large portion of our population will be electrified, industries will enjoy stable electricity, and this will increase production and create employment for our people,” Adelabu said, expressing optimism about the future of Nigeria’s electricity supply.
Bottom Line
Adelabu’s emphasis on the increase in installed capacity from 13,000 to over 14,000 megawatts, supported by the commissioning of new hydroelectric power plants like the Zungeru plant, indicates that the government is making concrete steps to expand the country’s energy infrastructure.
However, it’s important to note that while installed capacity is growing, actual generation and distribution are often constrained by outdated transmission networks, insufficient distribution infrastructure, and market inefficiencies.
The ratification of the new Electricity Act of 2023, which liberalizes and decentralizes the power sector, is another important move toward reforming the industry.
Decentralization could foster competition, attract private investments, and improve efficiency, particularly in underserved areas. The focus on infrastructure upgrades, such as the installation of transformers and mobile substations, is critical for improving the reliability of power delivery, especially to rural and peri-urban areas.
