Nigeria’s Federal Government has announced a marked improvement in the stability of the national power grid, attributing it to the addition of 700 megawatts (MW) of transmission capacity. This development signals a potential turning point for a sector long plagued by instability and frequent blackouts.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed this progress during a meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja. According to Adelabu, the enhanced transmission capacity is a direct result of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), a project that secured $2.3 billion in financing to overhaul and modernize the country’s transmission infrastructure.
“We have installed almost 90 percent of this, and they are working,” Adelabu stated, as reported by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji. “And that has improved transmission capacity by over 700 megawatts, which is the result of what we are seeing now in terms of relative stability in the transmission grid.”
Addressing Historical Grid Instability
Historically, Nigeria’s power grid has been notoriously fragile, experiencing frequent collapses when supply approached 5,000 MW. “Before now, at the time the supply to the grid entered 5,000, the grid was unstable; it shook, collapsed and all that,” Adelabu explained. “Now, we are having an average of 5,000, 7,000, and 8,000 megawatts. So, it’s not by accident. It’s because of these activities of the government.”
The PPI’s pilot phase, involving the installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations across the nation, has been instrumental in achieving this stability. The minister also highlighted two major milestones: the highest average daily power consumption exceeding 20,000 kilowatt-hours and a record transmission and distribution of 5,801.63 MW. “And lastly, we have achieved a valuable generation capacity of 6,003 megawatts in Nigeria. So, which is why I keep saying that when you put in some level of activity, you see the results,” he added.
Call for Continued International Support
Adelabu urged EU member states to continue providing technical and financial assistance to Nigeria’s power sector, emphasizing its critical role in driving economic growth. “The power sector is so critical to the optimal performance of every other sector. Without power, it would be tough for other sectors to perform actively,” he noted.
He acknowledged the significant financial support from European nations like Germany and France, as well as their development partners. He also cited the positive effect of the 2023 Electricity Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which has spurred reforms and attracted investment.
“We have seen some reasonable improvements since this new administration came in,” Adelabu said, citing grid expansion, renewable energy integration, and policy reforms. “We have also exploited renewable energy in our rural areas and semi-urban areas that were either underserved or unserved. Renewable energy in terms of solar energy, most especially, and we have small dams which we are using for hydro power supply. So, we have achieved some level of energy expansion in terms of new generation.”
Commitment to Sector Transformation
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the power sector to ensure a stable, reliable, and affordable electricity supply for all Nigerians. At the Energy Times Newspaper Award, where Adelabu received the Power Sector Personality of the Year award, he reiterated the administration’s focus on grid strengthening, renewable energy integration, policy reforms, and rural electrification.
“Electricity is the lifeblood of any economy—the catalyst for industrialisation, job creation, and socio-economic development,” Adelabu emphasized. “Yet, we are acutely aware of the gaps that persist: from grid inefficiencies to the need for diversified energy sources, including renewables.”
The minister stressed that the current progress is a step in the right direction, and continued collaboration with international partners is crucial to achieving a sustainable and efficient power sector.
