Nigeria Secures $2.3 Billion Boost to Overhaul Power Transmission, Says Minister Adelabu

The federal government is securing a $2.3 billion investment aimed at overhauling the country’s power transmission infrastructure. This was announced by Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, during a strategic meeting with Gautier Mignot, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, held in Abuja on Saturday.

Adelabu highlighted the deal as a cornerstone of the administration’s push to reform the energy sector and boost access to reliable electricity across the nation.

“This investment is part of the Presidential Power Initiative, popularly known as the Siemens Project,” Adelabu revealed. “It marks a significant step toward transforming our transmission network, and the German government has been a key partner in making this a reality.”

The minister also underscored the administration’s strides in expanding energy access, especially to underserved and previously unconnected regions.

“We’ve extended the national grid to areas that had never seen power lines before,” he said. “In rural and semi-urban areas, we’ve deployed renewable energy solutions—particularly solar and small hydro—from mini-grids to standalone systems.”

These efforts, he noted, have not only increased energy access but have also laid the groundwork for a more diversified and resilient energy mix

Adelabu announced that Nigeria’s electricity generation has reached new heights, hitting a capacity of 6,003 megawatts, while transmission and distribution have peaked at 5,801.63 megawatts—surpassing the previous record set in 2021.

“In addition to generation gains, we’ve installed 10 new power transformers and 10 mobile substations,” he said. “This has significantly stabilized the grid and raised daily supply averages to between 5,000 and 8,000 megawatts.”

Global Partnerships Driving Reform

The minister emphasized the critical role of international collaboration in Nigeria’s energy transition, citing contributions from Germany, France, the UK, and several development agencies including GIZ, AFD, and the EU.

“These partners have been instrumental—not just in renewables but also in modernizing our grid infrastructure,” Adelabu stated. “Like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more. Continued collaboration is key to reaching our goals.”

Powering Economic Growth

Adelabu framed the power sector as the bedrock of Nigeria’s broader economic transformation, stressing the urgency of reform to unlock the country’s full industrial and economic potential.

“Every other sector relies on power,” he said. “That’s why we’re committed to leveraging bilateral and multilateral partnerships to learn from global best practices and drive sustainable change in our energy landscape.”