The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the power sector in Nigeria achieved an impressive output of 5000 megawatts in three years as stakeholders continue their efforts to increase electricity production.
This was disclosed by Adelabu in a statement during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, according to Nairametrics.
Adelabu said that the increase in production is proof of the Ministry’s commitment and efforts over the last nine months to improve industrial output.
In addition, he said the Federal Government had set a target of 6,000 megawatts by the end of the year, an unprecedented achievement in Nigeria’s power sector.
He stated “When it comes to generation capacity, 5000 megawatts of power was achieved in May 2024 for the first time in 3 years —
“Exactly on 3rd of May 2024, we generated, transmitted, and distributed 5,345MW instead of the usual 3,000MW.
“We all know what we passed through in February and March. But we rose to the occasion, and we made sure we changed the situation for the better.
“Our target is to achieve 6,000MW before the end of this year for the first time in the history of Nigeria.
We’ve improved grid generating capacity with the addition of 700MW in Geregu. We are also proposing the inclusion of 3,000 utility-scale solar power sources within the next 24 months to change the mix of our energy generation,”
Adelabu in March noted that the Federal Government intends to increase its electricity generation capacities from 3,500 megawatts to 6,500 megawatts over the next 3 to 6 months.
He stated that the aim was to improve the power supply nationwide to meet the increasing energy needs.
Adelabu explained the government’s plan for initially focusing on delivering services to customers in upper billing bands, and gradually increasing their service as a result of targeted investments in infrastructure.
He underlined the need to stimulate demand through active customer interaction and ensure efficient use of energy produced, as well as highlighting the need for a proper distribution system to minimise waste.
The minister noted the government’s commitment to enhancing the sector’s performance through substantial investments in infrastructure and efficient customer response.
