FG Plans 7,000MW Boost to National Grid – Adelabu 

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the Federal Government is moving into the first phase of the Siemens power project, which will add an additional 7,000 megawatts to the national grid and help stabilise electricity supply across the country.

Adelabu stated this in Abuja on Monday while receiving a delegation from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, which visited the Federal Ministry of Power to assess Nigeria’s progress in achieving its Mission 300 energy access target.

The minister said the government had already achieved an additional 700 megawatts under the Presidential Power Initiative and was expanding grid infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand.

“We are enhancing grid extension and expansion through programmes such as the Presidential Power Initiative, which has generated an additional 700 megawatts for us. We are moving to the first phase of the Siemens project, which will also add an additional 7,000 megawatts to our generation and also stabilise it,” Adelabu said.

Adelabu also described the practice of estimated billing in Nigeria’s electricity sector as a “rip-off” on consumers, saying the Federal Government is working to ensure every consumer gets accurately metered for fairness and accountability in power usage.

According to a statement by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, the minister said the government has embarked on several initiatives to improve electricity supply and access across the country, including grid expansion, off-grid solar projects, and metering to eliminate unfair billing practices.

“Our metering initiative is going on so that our consumers can get the accurate value of their consumption, as the estimated billing is a rip-off on them,” Adelabu said.

He explained that the metering programme is part of broader efforts to ensure transparency in electricity consumption, reduce losses, and build public confidence in the power sector.

Adelabu reiterated that the government remains committed to achieving Mission 300, an initiative targeting electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030, and that Nigeria has already made significant progress in implementing the programme.

“Even though we have made significant progress in the implementation of this policy, there are lots of gaps to be filled so that it will not just be rhetoric. We must fully implement it,” he said.

He emphasised that Nigeria’s strategy under Mission 300 focuses on improving energy access in rural areas through off-grid solar solutions.

“In the area of agriculture, for instance, we want to focus on irrigation for our rural farmers. In this case, we want to deploy thousands of solar power pumps to help rural farmers to boost productivity. We will also follow with the deployment of solar-powered storage facilities because when they produce more than what can be consumed, storage becomes a challenge as the products go bad quickly,” Adelabu stated.

He noted that the government’s efforts also include providing clean energy access to small-scale businesses and rural health facilities, aimed at enhancing productivity and improving livelihoods.

During the visit, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet commended the Federal Government for its progress in implementing energy reforms and pledged technical assistance to support Nigeria’s Mission 300 objectives.

GEAPP’s African Director and leader of the delegation, Labna Bhayani, expressed satisfaction with Nigeria’s achievements under Adelabu’s leadership.

“We are really impressed with what we have heard from you. You have made significant progress in your policy reforms, such as in your grid and off-grid programmes. It is important for us to get involved in the area of technical assistance that you have mentioned, and I think we can provide collaboration and partnership in that area,” Bhayani said.

She explained that GEAPP, unlike lending institutions such as the World Bank or the African Development Bank, provides philanthropic and technical support to countries advancing clean energy access.

“Even though we do not give loans like the World Bank and the African Development Bank, as we are just philanthropic, we will provide assistance where we feel we need to, to help you provide clean energy to your people,” she added.

Adelabu assured the delegation that Nigeria would continue to strengthen its partnerships with global energy organisations to fast-track the implementation of Mission 300 and improve access to affordable, clean, and reliable electricity for Nigerians.

The country currently generates an average of 5,000 MW out of its 13,000 MW installed capacity.

Over 85 million Nigerians are said to be living without access to electricity.