Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has promised that 150 megawatts (mw) will be added to Nigeria’s national grid by the end of 2024, as part of efforts to address the country’s persistent electricity challenges.
Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Adelabu highlighted the progress made under the Siemens-led Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
“We have completed about 80% of the pilot stage, which includes the importation, installation, and commissioning of 10 power transformers and 10 power mobile substations,” Adelabu stated.
“These efforts have already added 750 megawatts to our grid capacity, and by year-end, an additional 150 megawatts will be realized upon full completion of the pilot phase.”
The minister acknowledged the aging and fragile state of Nigeria’s power grid, emphasizing the importance of the Siemens project to achieve long-term stability.
“When Phase One is complete, Nigeria’s power grid will not remain the same. This project will redefine grid stability and efficiency across the country,” he said.
Adelabu also outlined the next phase of the project, which involves rehabilitating 14 existing substations and building 23 new ones nationwide. He confirmed that the first batch of agreements for Phase One has been finalized, with approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement expected soon before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) concludes financing arrangements.
On renewable energy, Adelabu emphasized Nigeria’s vast potential in solar, wind, and hydropower.
“Germany has the technology, and we have the natural resources,” he remarked, noting that over 30 states experience at least 10 hours of sunshine daily, with significant wind potential in northern desert regions and southern coastal areas.
Adelabu also highlighted plans for off-grid solutions to address rural energy needs.
“Each of our 36 states and the FCT will have their own embedded generation plants, creating a distributed power model that shields them from national grid challenges,” he explained.
While no new agreements were signed during the meeting with President Steinmeier, Adelabu reaffirmed the commitment to accelerate existing projects to ensure expanded energy access and grid stability for Nigerians.
“The focus is on expediting the implementation of our current agreements,” he said.