Nigeria’s Energy Sector Records 5% Increase In Access – Adelabu

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says a remarkable improvement has been achieved in the nation’s energy sector .

He stated this during the 2025 budget defence before the Senate committee on power in Abuja.

The Minister told the lawmakers that access to energy has increased by 5% in 2024.

According to him, energy access moved from 59% at the end of 2023 to 64% by the end of 2024 as a result of grid expansion and renewable energy projects across the country.

The minister disclosed that Nigeria’s power generation capacity grew by 30% in the 2024 fiscal year, noting that the administration inherited an average of 4,100 megawatts (MW) of power generation in 2023, but the figure rose to a peak of 5,528 MW by the end of 2024.

“We added a new hydroelectric power dam, Zumbiru, which generated 700 MW, while other hydro and thermal plants like Kainji, Shiroro, and Dadinkowa also improved significantly,” Adelabu said.

Power plants under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) – including Olorunsogo, Omotosho, and Sapele – also contributed to this growth.

However, the minister noted that the government missed its 6,000 MW target due to grid challenges experienced towards the end of the year.

Adelabu acknowledged that while progress was made in expanding the national grid, Nigeria experienced eight grid collapses in 2024, with five being full collapses and three partial.

Out of the five full collapses, he said three were attributed to power generation issues, such as a reduction in solar generation and gas infrastructure challenges, while the remaining two collapses were due to vandalism.

The minister highlighted the vandalization of critical transmission lines, including the Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line and the Ugwuachukwu-Bauchi-Makurdi line, as key issues affecting grid stability.

“These vandalized lines caused blackouts in the northern region, and although we managed to restore one line, the Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line remains unfixed due to insecurity,” he stated.

James Itodo, Edited By Grace Namiji