The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced on Sunday that more than 40 percent of Nigerians now enjoy daily electricity supply of up to 20 hours.
He attributed this achievement to revolutionary measures implemented by the government aimed at ensuring a more stable and reliable electricity supply for citizens. In a statement released by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu noted that this milestone aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which seeks to stimulate economic growth.
Reflecting on his first year in office, the minister highlighted that the increase in power supply results from bold and transformative actions taken by the government. He stated, “This feat is a result of many of the revolutionary measures being undertaken by the Power Minister, with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Adelabu emphasized the President’s consistent advocacy for the importance of stable electricity in driving Nigeria’s industrialization efforts. He reported that the ministry is currently generating over 5,500 megawatts of power, with plans to improve this figure by year-end, as reliable power supply remains a key campaign promise of President Tinubu.
He stressed that stable electricity is crucial for economic development, stating, “The first thing developed nations got right was achieving reliable, functional, and affordable electricity, especially for industries, businesses, and households.”
Adelabu cited the examples of countries like South Korea, China, and the United States, attributing their economic success to consistent power supply. He reiterated the administration’s vision to provide households, businesses, and institutions with stable electricity, enabling them to enhance productivity and create jobs.
He pointed out that upon taking office, Nigeria had an installed generation capacity of 13,000 megawatts but was only producing about 4,000 megawatts. This situation was deemed unacceptable given the nation’s population and economic activities.
Since then, he noted a substantial improvement, with the installed capacity now exceeding 14,000 megawatts due to new additions like the Zungeru hydroelectric power plant and enhancements to existing plants. Adelabu concluded by stating, “Today, we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power, transmit it effectively, and over 40 percent of customers enjoy more than 20 hours of regular power supply nationwide.”
