- Nigeria targets 20 hours of daily electricity by 2027, focusing on urban areas and industrial hubs through increased oil and gas investments.
- Frequent grid collapses continue to disrupt power supply, with load rejections from DisCos cited as a major cause of outages.
- The government aims to improve revenue collection and strengthen the power sector to ensure sustainable and reliable electricity access.
The Nigerian government aims to deliver 20 hours of electricity daily to consumers by 2027. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, announced this during the African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
Verheijen outlined the goal, linking it to increased investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. “By 2027, we will provide 20 hours of electricity for urban areas and industrial hubs,” she said. Abiodun Oladunjoye, the State House Director of Information and Publicity, stated on Thursday, November 6.
President Tinubu’s administration wants to improve electricity access for 86 million underserved Nigerians. Verheijen also mentioned that the program would enhance revenue collection and assurance in the power sector, tackling a significant industry challenge.
Nigeria continues to face severe issues with its power grid. The national grid collapsed again on Thursday, marking the second outage in three days. Frequent grid collapses contribute to ongoing power outages across the country.
Earlier this year, on February 4, the grid suffered a significant collapse. Its capacity dropped sharply from 2,407 megawatts to just 31 by midday, forcing a complete shutdown by 1 p.m. This ongoing instability has made it difficult for Nigeria to maintain consistent power for its citizens and industries.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) attributed these frequent collapses to load rejections by electricity distribution companies (DisCos). DisCos often reject electricity they cannot distribute, causing an overload that triggers blackouts.
Despite these challenges, the government remains optimistic about improving power supply through strategic investments. The administration plans to stabilise electricity generation and distribution with better funding in the oil and gas sector. The strategy also includes improving the revenue system to ensure proper payment for power generated, which will help sustain the industry.
Nigeria’s unreliable power supply has long hindered its economic growth. Industries rely heavily on generators, driving up costs and lowering productivity. Expanding electricity access will boost Nigeria’s economy, attract investments, and improve the quality of life for millions of citizens.
The government’s 2027 target of 20 hours of electricity per day is ambitious, but officials believe it is achievable with the right policies and investments. However, experts argue that solving Nigeria’s power issues requires more than increased funding. The country needs structural reforms, better grid management, and more efficient distribution networks to reach the 2027 goal.
As Nigeria pursues this target, many will closely monitor the government’s efforts to deliver stable and reliable electricity—something the nation has struggled to achieve for decades.