Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has acknowledged that grid collapses will continue, but assured that the government is working to reduce their frequency and ensure quick restoration times.
The minister emphasized that vandalism remains one of the biggest challenges facing the power sector.
To address these challenges, the government plans to invest N36 billion in the distribution of transformers across the six geopolitical zones of the country. This investment aims to improve power distribution infrastructure and address systemic challenges in the sector.
Key Initiatives and Challenges
- Transformer Distribution: The government’s N36 billion investment will focus on improving power distribution infrastructure.
- Sub-Station Revamp: Phase 1 of a major revamp of five sub-stations across the country is set to commence.
- Estimated Billing: Over seven million customers are still subjected to estimated billing, highlighting the need for improved metering.
- Grid Fragility: The damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line has placed undue pressure on the grid, resulting in frequent collapses.
- Vandalism: Collaboration with security agencies is critical to addressing vandalism, which remains a significant challenge.
Progress in Power Generation
Despite challenges, Nigeria’s power generation capacity increased by 30% in 2024, with the administration inheriting an average generation capacity of 4,100 megawatts (MW) in 2023 and raising it to 5,528 MW by the end of 2024.
