Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, announced that Nigeria’s power generation increased by 34% in 2024. Speaking during a budget defense session with the Senate Committee on Power, Adelabu revealed that the administration inherited an average generation capacity of 4,100 megawatts (MW) in 2023 and raised it to 5,528 MW by the end of 2024.
He attributed the increase to the addition of a new 700 MW hydroelectric power dam, Zungeru, and significant improvements from existing power plants, both hydro and thermal. Although the initial target was 6,000 MW, unforeseen challenges such as grid disturbances prevented this achievement. However, the shortfall was minimal.
Adelabu also highlighted a rise in energy access, from 59% in 2023 to 64% in 2024, driven by a combination of grid access expansion and growth in renewable energy initiatives, including solar, small hydro, and wind projects. Despite these advancements, he expressed concerns over the metering gap, with around six million customers metered and over seven million remaining unmetered. To address this, Adelabu mentioned that the ministry had secured a N700 billion fund and planned to procure at least two million meters annually over the next five years, aiming to eliminate the metering gap and fraud in electricity billing.
- Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando Line Yet to Be Fixed Due to Insecurity
Adelabu also addressed the ongoing issue of the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, which has not been repaired due to persistent insecurity in the region. This line is one of two major power transmission routes to northern Nigeria, and its failure has placed significant pressure on the grid. The minister explained that attempts to repair the line were hindered by terrorist and bandit attacks, forcing the government to hand over the issue to security agencies.
Adelabu acknowledged that the national grid inherited by the government was “very old and dilapidated,” which contributed to eight collapses in 2024, five of which were full collapses. He emphasized that efforts were ongoing to address these challenges, with the Presidential Power Initiative aiming to revamp the grid and eliminate vandalism.
The minister expressed hope that 2025 would bring improvements, stating that despite the setbacks, the government had almost met its targets for 2024.
In response, Eyinnaya Abaribe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, questioned the government’s continuous funding of power distribution companies (DisCos).