- Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that only 2 gigawatts have been added to the national grid since 1984.
- Despite substantial past investments and ongoing power supply challenges, the Bola Tinubu administration aims to boost Nigeria’s grid electricity to 6,000 megawatts by the end of 2024.
At a recent appearance on Television Continental (TVC), Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, it was revealed that the country has only added 2 gigawatts (2,000 megawatts) to its national grid since 1984, a period spanning 40 years.
This starkly contrasts with the rapid progress seen in other countries. For instance, from December 2015 to December 2018, Egypt added 28,229 megawatts to its grid, achieving a total installed capacity of 55 gigawatts, as the International Trade Administration (ITA) reported.
Despite these figures, Adelabu emphasised that Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, relies on approximately 5,000 megawatts of daily power supply. He described this situation as “shameful”. He highlighted the disparity with countries like South Korea, which have effectively overcome power supply challenges and become hubs for global companies like LG and Hyundai.
The Bola Tinubu administration aims to increase Nigeria’s grid electricity capacity to 6,000 megawatts by 2024. This target represents a significant boost from the current capacity but underscores the extent of the power sector’s struggle over the years.
Adelabu’s remarks come amid revelations about Nigeria’s substantial investments in the power sector. Reports indicate that the country spent N1.7 trillion on power infrastructure between 2018 and 2020. Over $7.5 billion was also allocated to transmission projects under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
These figures, however, do not encompass the N1.5 trillion lent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Generation Companies (Gencos) and Distribution Companies (Discos) nor the recurrent budgets allocated over the years.
Despite these significant investments, the persistent issues in Nigeria’s power sector point to systemic challenges that have yet to be effectively addressed. Adelabu’s acknowledgement of these problems and the government’s plan to ramp up power capacity reflects a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive solutions to improve the nation’s energy infrastructure and reliability.