- Nigeria’s Power Minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, criticised its outdated power infrastructure, citing it as a critical reason for the persistent erratic electricity supply.
- The government’s Presidential Metering Initiative aims to install two million meters annually over the next four to five years to address the significant metering gap in Nigeria.
On August 17, 2024, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, attributed the country’s persistent erratic electricity supply to outdated and inadequate power infrastructure. During a tour of MBH Power Limited’s Shagamu, Ogun State facility, Adelabu emphasised that decades of neglect had left the sector’s infrastructure in poor condition.
MBH Power, an integrated energy solutions provider specialising in engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), metering, energy audits, and conventional and non-conventional power generation, was noted for its critical role in addressing these issues. Adelabu pointed out that the ageing infrastructure, including weakened power lines, outdated transformers, and deteriorating towers, was a significant factor behind Nigeria’s unreliable power supply.
The minister outlined his commitment to upgrading power sector infrastructure to remedy the situation. He highlighted the pressing need for reforms beyond legislation and policy improvements. Notably, Adelabu addressed the issues of poor pricing and liquidity within the sector, underscoring the importance of metering in enhancing collection efficiency and overall market sustainability.
Currently, less than 50% of Nigerian electricity consumers are metered. To tackle this, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has launched the Presidential Metering Initiative, managed by the Presidential Metering Council, which Adelabu chairs. The initiative aims to install two million meters annually over the next four to five years, addressing the existing gap of eight million meters.
Therefore, Support from international development partners, such as the World Bank through the Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), will contribute nearly two million meters to the initiative. According to Adelabu, this partnership makes MBH Power’s factory pivotal in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Following his inspection, the minister expressed satisfaction with MBH Power’s contributions to the sector, though he noted room for further improvement. He praised the company’s extensive experience in power transmission, distribution, and metering and its recent ventures into renewable energy. Adelabu highlighted MBH Power’s comprehensive understanding of the power sector and its significant contributions to various projects nationwide.
Mr Rakesh Mahapatra, MBH Power’s Director and Chief Operating Officer, presented the company’s achievements since its inception in Nigeria in 2000, emphasising its leading energy solutions provider role.