Nigeria’s Power Sector Held Back By Outdated Infrastructure – Minister

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said Nigeria’s power sector is struggling to meet the country’s energy needs due to outdated and dilapidated transmission and distribution infrastructure.

This was as Adelabu said, “this has led to the historical epileptic supply of power to households, industries, and businesses.”

In a statement released from the ministry on Sunday, Adelabu highlighted that more than 59 per cent of industries in Nigeria are off the grid, operating their own captive, self-generated power due to the unreliability of the national grid.

“They do not consider the national grid reliable and dependable. As a result, many now operate their own captive, self-generated power.”

According to the minister, despite efforts to increase power generation, the sector’s infrastructure limitations hinder its ability to transmit and distribute electricity efficiently.

He said power generation peaked at 5,170 megawatts on Friday, 30th August, but had to be reduced by 1,400 megawatts due to the Distribution Companies’
(DISCOs) inability to take up the supply.

To address these challenges, Adelabu said the federal government has released $800 million for the construction of substations and distribution lines under the Presidential Power Initiative.

Adelabu emphasised that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to transform the power sector, noting that several initiatives have commenced that are gradually restoring confidence in the sector and among power sector consumers, particularly industries.

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The Minister stated that the funds will be allocated for the construction of substations for Lot 2 and substations and distribution lines for Lot 3, with $400 million designated for each.

Lot 2 covers the franchise areas of Benin, Port Harcourt, and Enugu Distribution Companies (DISCOs), while Lot 3 covers the franchise areas of Abuja, Kaduna, Jos, and Kano DISCOs.