The Nigerian Government has set a target to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2024 to improve power supply across the country.
This commitment was announced by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during a briefing to mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Adelabu emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to achieving and sustaining reliable power supply to drive national development.
He credited the progress made so far to a renewed focus on transforming the power sector to stimulate economic growth and industrialization.
The minister highlighted the significance of the 2023 Electricity Act, which has decentralized and liberalized the power sector, allowing states and local governments to participate in the entire value chain.
This approach aims to bring power infrastructure closer to grassroots levels, promoting inclusivity and efficiency.
Adelabu outlined plans to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix by incorporating 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.
Regarding recent achievements, Adelabu noted that Nigeria reached a milestone of 5,000 megawatts of power generation in May 2024, highlighting the concerted efforts to address sector challenges.
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 to eliminate estimated billing.
Adelabu assured Nigerians that recent tariff increments are temporary measures with long-term benefits and urged patience.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to promoting national development through reliable power supply and pledged to strengthen policy formulation, implementation, and oversight in the power industry.
