Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, has unveiled the Federal Government’s strategy to enhance power supply by focusing on alternate sources of generation. Speaking in Abuja during an interaction with journalists, Adelabu emphasised a shift away from the national grid towards distributed power.
Adelabu explained that power generation could be decentralised, avoiding the national grid, by exploring alternate sources. He highlighted the government’s intent to leverage small hydros, such as small dams capable of generating between 500 kilowatts and five megawatts.
“We want to focus on that to generate power to identified locations embedded in the distribution network without passing through the transmission network because the capacity and stability of our transmission is still constrained,” he stated.
The minister outlined the government’s interest in solar energy, with numerous investors offering proposals to invest in the sector. Adelabu clarified that the focus should be on off-grid power generation and mentioned potential plans for offshore wind power given Nigeria’s coastal geography.
Regarding the extension of Electricity Distribution Companies’ licenses, Adelabu expressed concern and revealed an ongoing investigation. He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach involving all stakeholders to address the sector’s multi-dimensional challenges.
He called for a shift from the traditional top-to-down approach, emphasising distribution, infrastructure improvement, and transmission. He emphasised a customer-centric approach, starting from the consumer end to enhance power delivery.
The minister also called on the media to report objectively, recognising their role as partners in achieving the administration’s goal of delivering stable power to Nigerians. Adelabu highlighted the importance of effective communication in conveying the government’s efforts in the power sector.
