NIGERIA: Nigeria On Path To 24-Hour Power Supply – Minister

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Federal Government has expressed confidence that Nigerians will soon begin to enjoy an uninterrupted electricity supply.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, gave the assurance in Abuja during the inauguration of two blocks of training workshops and a 104-room hostel at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).

Adelabu described the development as a milestone for the institute and the sector, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had shown genuine commitment to turning vision into action.

He revealed that Nigeria had recently recorded its highest level of power generation and transmission in history, a sign that a stable supply was within reach.

The minister said: “In no time, we are going to witness a country where there is a 24/7 uninterrupted power supply. This is possible and we have certainly seen the signs.”

The minister added that the government was working to power universities, teaching hospitals, health centres, and other public institutions, while also encouraging local production of meters, transformers, cables, and batteries to make the sector self-reliant.

“We have what it takes to start manufacturing our own meters, cables, transformers, transmission transformers and batteries. We have the brain. We have people. We must be self-reliant and sustainable, and we are very close to achieving this,” he said.

Director-General of NAPTIN, Ahmed Nagode, said the facilities would help build a skilled workforce and equip young Nigerians with tools to drive innovation in the energy industry.

The European Union (EU) and the French Government, through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), supported the project with funding and technical expertise. EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, disclosed that the bloc had invested over €200 million in Nigeria’s power sector since 2008, with an additional €100 million package set to add 400 megawatts of renewable energy by 2027, benefiting over five million Nigerians.