The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, clarified that the recent improvement in Nigeria’s power supply is not a result of increased rainfall but rather the outcome of deliberate actions taken by the federal government.
During an oversight visit from the House of Representatives Committee on Power, Adelabu emphasized that the progress is intentional, dismissing the notion that it occurred by chance.
He explained that currently, hydroelectric power contributes just over 20% of Nigeria’s total electricity generation, with the remaining nearly 80% coming from gas. This statistic underscores that the recent improvements are due to strategic initiatives rather than seasonal factors.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to bring the Siemens power project to fruition. He mentioned that the pilot phase of the project is nearing completion, with various pieces of equipment already being deployed nationwide.
“We went to Germany for discussions with the German Chancellor to accelerate the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative, commonly known as the Siemens project,” Adelabu said.
“Subsequently, we held a meeting in Dubai where we signed an acceleration agreement to ensure the project’s continuation. I can confidently report that within a year, we have nearly completed the pilot phase, which involves the importation, commissioning, and installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations across Nigeria. The improvements you see today are a direct result of these efforts, not due to rainfall.”
Adelabu also addressed the issue of financial liquidity within the power sector, revealing that the government has allocated ₦205 billion from the ₦1.3 trillion debt owed to Generation Companies (Gencos) to enhance liquidity. He urged lawmakers to maintain pressure on the executive branch to ensure the continued repayment of outstanding debts owed to stakeholders in the sector.
“In terms of market liquidity, the government has begun repaying these companies, though there is still a long way to go,” he noted.
“Just three weeks ago, out of the approximately ₦1.3 trillion we owe Gencos, we were able to pay ₦205 billion, which has been well-received by the companies. However, I urge members of the House Committee to keep pressing the executive to ensure that these payments continue.”
On the issue of customer metering, Adelabu acknowledged the significant shortfall, stating that out of over 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria, only slightly more than five million have been metered, leaving a gap of more than seven million meters. The ministry, he said, aims to address this by installing two million meters annually over the next five years.
