The Federal Government has announced a marked improvement in the stability of the national electricity grid, following the successful addition of 700 megawatts to Nigeria’s transmission capacity.
Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that the added capacity was made possible through the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), which secured $2.3 billion in funding to overhaul the country’s transmission infrastructure.
According to a statement by the minister’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, the newly installed capacity nearly 90% of which is already operational has helped stabilise grid performance, preventing collapses that frequently occurred when output exceeded 5,000 megawatts.
“We have installed almost 90 per cent of this, and they are working. That has improved transmission capacity by over 700 megawatts, which is the reason behind the current relative grid stability,” Adelabu said.
He noted that the grid now supports higher power loads, with daily transmission hovering between 5,000 and 8,000 megawatts, a significant improvement from previous years. The minister also celebrated recent milestones in Nigeria’s power history, including the highest-ever average daily consumption over 20,000 kilowatt-hours, and a record energy distribution of 5,801.63 MW, surpassing the 2021 record.
Call for Continued EU Support
During the meeting with European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, Adelabu urged continued European support in technical and financial interventions for Nigeria’s power sector. He praised the ongoing cooperation with countries like Germany and France, highlighting the role of Siemens in implementing critical transmission upgrades under the PPI.
“We are working hard to ensure Nigeria benefits from bilateral and multilateral engagements, especially in power sector transformation. Mr. President has placed a high premium on fixing this sector,” Adelabu added.
The minister also acknowledged Nigeria’s long-standing power supply challenges, lamenting that despite being an early adopter of electricity in Africa, the country has lagged behind nations that embraced power much later.
He outlined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform strategy, which includes grid expansion, off-grid renewable energy development, and policy reforms to attract private sector investment.
Focus on Renewables and Rural Electrification
Adelabu revealed that efforts are being made to expand electricity access through solar energy solutions, hydro from small dams, and off-grid deployments in rural and underserved communities. He credited this progress to the passage of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power sector and empowered states and private players to act.
“We are prioritising rural electrification, grid strengthening, renewable integration, and policy reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said at the Energy Times Newspaper Awards, where he was named Power Sector Personality of the Year.
Adighije, Other Sector Leaders Recognised at Awards
Also honoured at the event was Engr. Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), who received the Young Achiever of the Year Award for her efforts to boost power generation.
Since taking office in August 2024, Adighije has led the restoration of two critical turbine units, adding 230 megawatts back to the grid. Speaking at the event, she described the award as a call to further action.
“We’ve only just begun. Our mandate to scale generation, transmission, and distribution is very clear — and we’re not losing sight of that,” Adighije said.
Other honourees included:
- Ekiti State Governor, Abayomi Oyebanji – Energy Governor of the Year
- Mele Kyari, former GCEO of NNPC – Man of the Year
- Farouk Ahmed, CEO, NMDPRA – Transformational Leader of the Year
- Folake Soetan, CEO, Ikeja Electric – Amazon of Nigeria’s Power Sector
Corporate winners included Shell Nigeria Exploration, Egbin Power, Seplat Energy, Heirs Energies, and NNPC’s Olufemi Soneye, who received an Award of Excellence.
