The Federal Government has pledged to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2024, as part of its efforts to enhance power supply across the nation.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the Ministerial Sectoral Briefing held to mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Adelabu emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to achieving and sustaining reliable power supply to facilitate national development.
He highlighted the significant strides made under Tinubu’s leadership, attributing the progress to a renewed focus on transforming the power sector to drive economic growth and industrialization.
The minister underscored the importance of the 2023 Electricity Act, adding that ”it has enabled decentralization and liberalization of the power sector, allowing states and local governments to participate across the entire value chain.”
”This move aims to bring power infrastructure closer to grassroots levels, fostering greater inclusivity and efficiency,” he noted.
Adelabu outlined plans to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix by introducing renewable energy sources alongside hydropower and gas.
He mentioned the addition of 700 megawatts from the Zungeru project and proposed the inclusion of 3,000 Utility Scale Solar Power Sources within the next 24 months to revolutionize energy generation.
Highlighting recent achievements, Adelabu noted that Nigeria achieved 5,000 megawatts of power generation in May 2024, a significant milestone after years of below-par performance.
He attributed this success to ”concerted efforts to address challenges in the sector.”
Addressing concerns about metering, the minister revealed plans to bridge the seven million meter gap by providing 10 million prepaid meters over the next five years, aiming to eradicate estimated billing.
Adelabu urged patience from Nigerians regarding recent tariff increments, assuring that ”it is a temporary measure with long-term benefits.”
Adelabu reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering national development through reliable power supply.
”We will strengthen policy formulation, implementation, and oversight to ensure the efficient functioning of the power industry,” he assured Nigerians.
Newsng recently reported that the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria have unveiled ambitious plans under its Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria, aiming to achieve a target of 10,000 megawatts.
The announcement was made by Adelabu during the African High-Level Roundtable on Sustainable Hydropower in the African Renewable Energy Mix of the 21st Century held in Abuja.
Adelabu said: ”The primary objective of the project is to enhance the utilization of existing storage for irrigation and hydropower generation while reinforcing institutional frameworks for integrated water resources management across Nigeria.”
