- Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, identified ageing and weak infrastructure as the primary cause of Nigeria’s decades-long erratic electricity supply, citing inadequate maintenance and upgrades across the sector.
- Adelabu emphasised the critical need for widespread metering to resolve liquidity issues in the power sector, with the government targeting the installation of at least two million meters annually to close the current eight-million-meter gap.
- During his visit to MBH Power Limited’s facility, Adelabu praised the company’s extensive experience and contributions to Nigeria’s power sector, highlighting its involvement in transmission, distribution, and renewable energy projects.
Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, attributed the country’s unreliable electricity supply to ageing and weak infrastructure. During his inspection of MBH Power Limited’s facility in Shagamu on August 17, Adelabu highlighted decades of neglect across the sector that have caused erratic power for Nigerians.
MBH Power Limited, an integrated energy solutions provider, focuses on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services in transmission, distribution, and metering.
Adelabu identified poor legislation and policies as contributors to the sector’s struggles but emphasised ageing infrastructure as the critical issue. “Our infrastructure is old and weak. Power lines are failing, transformers are outdated, and towers are collapsing. We haven’t replaced them as needed, leading to the unreliable supply Nigerians have faced for years,” he said.
The minister vowed that his ministry will prioritise upgrading and enhancing power infrastructure, underscoring the importance of companies like MBH Power in this effort.
Adelabu also addressed pricing and liquidity issues within the power sector. Despite reforms in tariff policy, poor liquidity continues to hinder progress. He linked the liquidity problem directly to inadequate metering, which hampers revenue collection for distribution companies (Discos).
“Less than half of electricity consumers nationwide have meters,” Adelabu stated. He stressed that widespread metering is crucial for sustaining the electricity market. The minister pointed out that President Bola Tinubu’s administration aims to close the metering gap, which currently stands at eight million meters.
As the chair of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Adelabu said the government intends to install at least two million meters annually over the next four to five years. International partners, including the World Bank, support this effort through the Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which will supply nearly two million meters.
After touring MBH Power’s facility, Adelabu expressed satisfaction with the company’s contributions to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He commended the company’s extensive experience building power transmission substations, including 330kV and 132kV substations and lines, and its expansion into renewable energy.
“Your work spans the entire power value chain, from generation to distribution and now meter manufacturing,” Adelabu said. He added that MBH Power’s deep understanding of the sector and successful track record in Nigeria make the company a key player in achieving a stable and reliable power system.
Earlier, Mr. Rakesh Mahapatra, Director and Chief Operating Officer of MBH Power, briefed the minister on the company’s achievements in Nigeria. Since its establishment in 2000, MBH Power has been a total energy solutions provider, contributing significantly to the sector.