Adelabu, A Prominent Figure In Nigeria, Has Attributed The Country’S Persisting Power Problems To The Lack Of Action By Previous Administrations.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, expressed his concerns about Nigeria’s electricity challenges and attributed them to the actions and inactions of previous administrations. However, he assured the public that the current administration under President Bola Tinubu is committed to revitalizing the power sector through extensive reform efforts.

Adelabu, during a visit by the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) organization in Abuja, emphasized that the government’s initiatives have led to a significant 27 percent increase in electricity supply across Nigeria. CIMICO consists of various NGOs, security personnel, and government agencies, such as the Department of State Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Orientation Agency, and the fire service.

Adelabu’s primary goal at the Ministry of Power is to expand energy infrastructure and alleviate energy poverty in both urban and rural areas of Nigeria. He acknowledged that the power sector’s current state is a result of past administrations’ failure to address the issue effectively. Despite being home to 220 million people, Nigeria’s power generation capacity stands at a meager 5,000 megawatts, a stark contrast to South Korea’s 130,000 megawatts for a population of 49 million.

Adelabu highlighted the importance of electricity and its potential to drive development in various sectors. He mentioned that the recently signed Electricity Act by President Bola Tinubu has decentralized power supply, enabling sub-national governments to participate in all aspects of the power sector. This includes generation, transmission, distribution, and regulatory functions within their respective territories.

The government aims to attract both local and foreign investments to enhance the sector. Adelabu stressed that previous intentional lack of investment in generation, transmission infrastructure, and the activities of distribution companies contributed to the current challenges. However, with the ongoing National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, the Ministry of Power is working towards a comprehensive roadmap to guide Nigeria’s energy sector.

Turning to the issue of electricity pricing, Adelabu highlighted the unsustainability of continued power subsidies. While acknowledging the need for subsidies, he stated that the government lacks the necessary funds to fulfill the promised subsidies, resulting in mounting debts to power generating companies. Adelabu emphasized the need to transition towards a cost-reflective tariff gradually. The recent migration of 15 percent of electricity consumers to a full cost-reflective tariff aims to ensure service reliability and affordability compared to using diesel or petrol generators.

Adelabu mentioned the improvement in the settlement of energy bills, which has increased from approximately 9 percent to around 40 percent, with a target of 70-75 percent. He emphasized the importance of addressing dilapidated and aged infrastructure, indicating that the government is actively working on infrastructure improvement programs.

Adelabu concluded on a positive note, stating that Nigeria reached a peak power generation of 5,155 megawatts on August 9, the highest in three years. He underscored the importance of sustaining the sector by encouraging consumers to pay for electricity and discouraging power theft.

Moving forward, the leader of the CIMICO team, Mr. Adams Otakwu, reiterated the significance of the energy sector as the foundation of national security. He emphasized the need for collective responsibility in ensuring optimal functioning of the power sector to avoid economic sabotage and threats to national security.