By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
RENEWED NATIONAL effort to stabilise Nigeria’s long-troubled power sector is gaining traction, with the Federal Government pledging full-scale reforms and strategic partnerships aimed at transforming energy infrastructure across the country.
Federal Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, reaffirmed this commitment during a meeting with the World Bank delegation in Abuja, acknowledging both the critical role energy plays in Nigeria’s broader development and the urgent need to reverse decades of decay.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us full backing to deliver lasting change,” Adelabu stated, blaming previous administrations for the neglect that has plagued the sector. “Over the years, we’ve paid lip service to transformation. Now, we’re working the talk.”
Adelabu’s remarks drew a sharp contrast between the past and present.
He lamented the historical underperformance of the power sector, pointing to an overburdened and under-maintained infrastructure network, widespread vandalism, and a severe metering gap—more than half of the country’s 12 million power consumers remain unmetered.
“Our transmission lines span thousands of kilometres, and we’ve left them to rot,” the Minister said.
“How can we expect sustained electricity when our infrastructure is falling apart, and we’ve turned a blind eye to system vandalism?”
From 1984 to 2023, Nigeria only managed to double its national generation output from 2,000 to 4,000 megawatts—a figure Adelabu labelled as symptomatic of systemic failure.
Since assuming office, however, the current administration claims to have ramped up generation to an average of 5,800 megawatts within 18 months.
“This is the foundation we need for a functioning economy,” he said. “Without stable electricity, every other sector—agriculture, transport, education, defence, health—suffers. That’s why President Tinubu is prioritising power.”
The Minister extended gratitude to the World Bank and other development partners for their longstanding involvement in Nigeria’s energy reforms.
He highlighted their support across all segments of the power value chain—from transmission and distribution to renewable energy and generation—as crucial to the sector’s recent progress.
“We deeply appreciate your commitment,” he told the World Bank officials. “Without your involvement, I can’t imagine what shape the sector would be in today.”
One prominent area of reform is the long-stalled Siemens project. Initially signed in 2019, the deal saw little movement until 2023. Adelabu noted that the pilot phase is now nearing completion, marking what he called “significant progress” under the Tinubu administration.
Adelabu said the government’s strategy hinges on abandoning old habits and committing to a fresh path. “We must run from the past,” he said, adding that new approaches are essential if Nigeria is to overcome the sector’s chronic underperformance.
“The seriousness, the determination, the commitment—these are the qualities this administration brings,” he said. “With a President who understands finance, business, and politics, we are on track to build the kind of energy foundation Nigeria has long deserved.”
