Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has attributed the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s power sector to years of neglect and failed reforms by previous administrations. He made the remarks on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the World Bank in Abuja.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, the Minister emphasized that the current administration is taking a radically different and more results-driven approach to revitalizing the sector.
“We actually have a past that we are not proud of. For years, we only paid lip service to power sector reforms without any real commitment,” Adelabu said. “This administration is doing things differently, and we’re already seeing progress.”
The Minister’s comments come just days after the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) raised concerns over a N4 trillion debt owed by the Federal Government, with N2 trillion of that amount accumulating in 2024 alone. The GenCos have warned of possible nationwide shutdowns if the debt burden is not addressed.
Despite this, Adelabu insisted that significant strides have been made under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership. He cited the boost in power generation, noting that between 1984 and 2023, Nigeria only added 2,000 megawatts to its power capacity. In contrast, the current administration has averaged 5,800 megawatts within 20 months in office.
The Minister also criticized past infrastructure mismanagement, pointing to the lack of maintenance of critical power transmission and distribution equipment, as well as vandalism and poor metering as factors contributing to instability in the sector.
“How can we expect stable electricity when over 12 million customers exist but less than six million meters have been deployed? It’s unrealistic,” he said.
Adelabu praised the World Bank’s continuous support for Nigeria’s power sector, highlighting their investments in transmission, distribution, and renewable energy. He stressed that stable electricity is the bedrock of economic development across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and transportation.
He also referenced the Siemens power deal signed in 2019, stating that no tangible progress was made until the Tinubu administration took office in 2023. “Today, the pilot phase is almost complete—something we couldn’t achieve in four years, we’ve done in less than two.”
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to energy reform, Adelabu declared, “President Tinubu understands that stable power is the foundation for national growth, and he’s giving us the full support to get it right.”
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