The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has disclosed the Federal Government’s strategy to significantly boost Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity from 3,500 megawatts to 6,500 megawatts within the next three to six months. This initiative aims to address the growing energy demands across the nation and enhance power supply nationwide.
During a working visit to various power projects in Lagos, Adelabu reiterated the urgency of escalating electricity generation capacity, emphasizing that the current capacity of 3,500 megawatts is inadequate. He outlined plans to ramp up capacity to a minimum of 6,000 to 6,500 megawatts within the specified timeframe.
As part of his visit, Adelabu inspected the facilities of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) headquarters and visited two 20 MVA injection substations at Randle, Surulere, which included the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) monitoring facilities. He commended EKEDC for its progress over the past decade and stressed the importance of continuous improvements in the power sector to drive economic growth and development effectively.
Adelabu elaborated on the government’s strategy to prioritize service delivery to customers in higher billing brackets initially, with plans to progressively improve services for all customer segments through targeted investments in infrastructure. This approach underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing electricity access and reliability for all Nigerians.
In addition to addressing generation capacity, Adelabu emphasized the crucial role of Distribution Companies (DisCos) in customer service. He highlighted the need for DisCos to engage proactively with consumers and optimize operations to meet their demands efficiently. Adelabu underscored the importance of addressing key challenges such as metering, vandalism, debt collection, and customer relations to enhance service delivery and minimize wastage.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the power sector’s performance through substantial investments in infrastructure and efficient customer response mechanisms. He emphasized the importance of stimulating demand through active customer engagement and ensuring the efficient distribution of generated power.
Reacting to the minister’s visit, Mr. Oritsedere Otubu, Chairman of EKEDC, expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts in enhancing power supply and pledged the company’s support for the initiative. Dr. Tinuade Sanda, CEO of EKEDC, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to collaborating with government agencies and consumers to safeguard power assets and combat vandalism.
Sanda highlighted EKEDC’s recent investments in infrastructure, including transformers, cables, and feeder rehabilitation, amounting to over four billion Naira in the last six months. She also addressed the issue of outstanding debts, revealing that the company’s debt profile over the past decade, including debts owed by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stood at over N131 billion. Sanda urged customers to settle their bills promptly to ensure effective service delivery, noting that MDAs’ outstanding debts alone amounted to over N36 billion.
In conclusion, the Federal Government’s initiative to increase electricity generation capacity represents a significant step towards improving power supply and driving socio-economic development in Nigeria. By prioritizing service delivery and addressing key challenges in the power sector, the government aims to enhance energy access and reliability for all citizens.
