- Adebayo Adelabu said the Federal Government increased electricity transmission capacity by 700 megawatts and plans to invest $2.3 billion to revamp transmission segments
- He said the power sector recorded the highest average daily power consumption, the highest energy transmission and distribution capacity, and a peak generation capacity under his stewardship
- Adelabu sought the European Union’s collaboration to improve Nigeria’s power sector and to drive economic development
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government has increased the transmission capacity by an additional 700 megawatts (MW), which is responsible for the improvement in the stability of Nigeria’s power grid.
He said the improvement in transmission capacity was achieved through the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), which secured $2.3 billion in financing to revamp and transform its transmission segments.
Adelabu said this at the weekend when he received the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, in his office in Abuja.
According to a statement released on Sunday, April 13, by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, the minister noted that unlike in the past when the grid supply was prone to collapse on approaching 5,000 MW, the system has been improved to remain stable at almost 8,000 MW.
He added that nearly 90 per cent of the new capacity has been installed and is operational, leading to the improvements in grid performance.
“We have installed almost 90 per cent of this, and they are working. 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.
“We have almost completed the pilot phase of that project, which involved the importation, installation, commissioning, and energisation of 10 power transformers across the country and another set of 10 mobile substations.
“Before now, at the time the supply to the grid entered 5,000, the grid was unstable; it shook, collapsed, and all that.
“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 statement read.
Adelabu said Nigeria's power sector has recorded milestones
Adelabu further noted that Nigeria’s power sector has recorded two major milestones under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He said these milestones are the highest average daily power consumption and the transmission and distribution of the highest energy of 5,801.63 MW by the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), as well as a generation capacity of 6,003 MW.
“This administration has recorded two major milestones in the power sector in Nigeria. Number one, the highest average daily power consumption. Over 20,000 kilowatt-hours were achieved, which has never been achieved before.
“We have also transmitted and distributed the highest energy in the volume of 5,801.63, which has broken the previous record achieved in 2021.
“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 said.
Adelabu seeks EU’s collaboration for Nigeria’s power sector improvement
Adelabu also called on the European Union (EU) member states to continue to provide technical, financial, and other assistance to Nigeria, especially the power sector, which he said is the driving force of the economy.
He said Nigeria is committed to continue working and collaborating with the EU and all its development partners in achieving both bilateral and multilateral agreements, while commending the financial support of EU nations like Germany, France, and others to Nigeria’s power sector.
The minister also highlighted the efforts of the present administration to improve the power sector, including energy access expansion, especially to rural and underserved areas through min-grids and renewable energy options, policy reforms, and attracting investment to the sector.
He said, “I was also excited to receive you in my office because we are trying everything possible to ensure that we benefit from bilateral and multilateral relationships when it comes to gaining experience of the Western nations on the issue of power.
“And like you rightly put it, 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, which is why Mr President has placed so much premium and priority on transforming the Nigerian power sector.
“We have a history that we are not proud of. Over 60 years of electricity in Nigeria and we are still at this level of erratic supply to households, businesses, and industries.
“We got electricity before some European countries. So those that got electricity after us have stabilised their supply. They have made their supply reliable, and they are benefiting from it through visible economic growth and industrial development.
“And today, we are still import-dependent on the majority of the things that we use in Nigeria, not because we don’t have the raw materials to produce these things but because of the lack of reliability and functionality of our power sector.”
Grid capacity to be increased by 150MW by year-end, says Minister of Power
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said Nigeria’s power grid will gain an additional 150 megawatts (MW) capacity by the end of 2024.
Adelabu disclosed this while speaking with journalists after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, December 11.
