Over 40% Of Nigerians Now Receive 20 Hours Of Electricity Daily – Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has announced that more than 40% of Nigerians are now benefiting from 20 hours of electricity daily.

Adelabu, in a statement released by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, attributed this progress to several transformative actions taken by the government to provide Nigerians with a more reliable electricity supply.

Earlier this year, in April, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), eliminated electricity subsidies for about two million customers in Band A.

They assured that these customers would receive at least 20 hours of power supply daily.

According to NERC’s August data, Nigeria’s average power generation was 4,150 megawatts, serving a population of over 200 million.

Adelabu credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support and his “Renewed Hope” agenda as a key factor in these achievements, aimed at revitalizing the economy.

Reflecting on his first year in office as part of Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations, Adelabu said the increase in electricity supply was a result of bold and decisive measures taken by the government.

“This feat is as a result of many of the revolutionary measures being undertaken by the Power Minister, with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Adelabu stated.

He further emphasized the President’s belief that Nigeria could achieve industrialization and economic breakthroughs through a steady power supply.

One of the Ministry’s major accomplishments in the past year, Adelabu pointed out, is the generation of over 5,500 megawatts of power.

He expressed the Ministry’s goal of further enhancing this figure by year’s end, as stable electricity is a core promise of President Tinubu’s administration.

Adelabu stressed that stable electricity is crucial for economic growth, noting that developed nations like South Korea, China, and those in Europe and North America owe much of their success to reliable power.

He said, “This is why you see great economies like Korea, China, Europe, and North America industrialized today. Their stability in electricity supply has been instrumental to their economic growth and industrial development.

“That’s why we say that we must achieve this for Nigeria as a country. We need to achieve the requisite economic growth and industrial development. Our dear president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, included this in the Renewed Hope Agenda as a major electoral policy to Nigerians.

“In his New Year speech on the 1st of January, 2024, he emphasized the need for the country to have stable, functional, and reliable electricity to drive other critical sectors.

“This is the only way we can achieve the required economic growth and industrial development. In fact, none of the critical sectors can function optimally without electricity stability and functionality.”

He added that stable power supply is essential for households, businesses, schools, hospitals, and industries, enabling them to function efficiently, increase capacity, and create jobs.

Citing examples like South Korea’s Samsung, Hyundai, and LG, Adelabu highlighted how stable electricity played a major role in their rise to global prominence.

He envisions a similar future for Nigeria, where more of the population will have access to electricity, boosting industry and employment.

Adelabu also outlined the progress made since the administration took office on May 29, 2023, with ministers being appointed on August 21, 2023.

At the start of their term, Nigeria had an installed power generation capacity of 13,000 megawatts but was only producing and distributing about 4,000 megawatts—a level he deemed insufficient for the country’s needs.

Power supply was unstable, and most consumers, both residential and commercial, were receiving less than 12-15 hours of electricity. Renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, were also underutilized.

Since then, there has been marked improvement. The installed capacity now exceeds 14,000 megawatts, thanks to the commissioning of the Zungeru hydroelectric plant and the enhancement of existing power stations.

Adelabu added that Nigeria is now generating over 5,500 megawatts of electricity, with over 40% of consumers enjoying more than 20 hours of stable power daily—a major improvement from the previous year.

KanyiDaily recalls that APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe had urged President Bola Tinubu to address the new electricity tariff in Nigeria.