Minister of Power Adedayo Adelabu says around 150 million Nigerians now have access to electricity, though 80 million still live without reliable power.
Speaking on Thursday, April 17, at the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference in Abuja, Adelabu linked the progress to Nigeria’s participation in “Mission 300,” a World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) initiative targeting electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030.
“The compact sets ambitious goals to enhance electricity access, increase renewable energy adoption, and improve clean cooking solutions for millions of Nigerians — that is Mission 300, and we are making good progress on this,” Adelabu said.
He added, “I’m happy to tell you that out of the 300 million Africans that the World Bank and AfDB aim to reach, Nigeria is on course to account for no less than 25 per cent, which translates to about 75 million Nigerians. When we presented our compact, they agreed with us.”
According to him, Nigeria currently supplies electricity to 150 million people. But access alone, he noted, is not the issue—reliability is.
“The real challenge lies in the stability and affordability of electricity. That’s how we measure reliability. We must ensure that those who have access enjoy consistent and affordable power,” he said.
He also urged international donors to invest more in Nigeria’s power grid, not just in renewables, warning that focusing solely on rural solar solutions may leave urban areas and industries struggling.
“When you’re extending access to the 300 million people under this initiative, let’s not concentrate solely on renewable energy—which is more appropriate for rural communities.
“Strengthening grid infrastructure is equally crucial so that those connected to the grid can enjoy reliable power. Otherwise, how do we explain the growing number of Nigerian companies opting out of the national grid to generate captive power?” he asked.
Power Generation on the Rise
Adelabu noted an increase in generation capacity under the current administration.
“We have increased our generation to 6,003 megawatts, up by 1,700 megawatts since President Tinubu assumed office.
“If we maintain this trajectory, we can reach 8,000 megawatts before the end of his first term and potentially climb to 23,000 megawatts like other developed countries,” he said.
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He also assured that the Kaduna Power Plant would come online before the end of 2025 and added that “the metering gap will soon be a thing of history.”
Tariff Hikes and Subsidy Challenges
Addressing recent electricity tariff reforms, Adelabu said revenue in the sector had increased by ₦700 billion following adjustments approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
In April 2024, NERC raised tariffs for Band A customers—those receiving at least 20 hours of electricity daily—from ₦68 to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour. The 230% hike affected nearly 1.9 million users.
According to the government, the hike aimed to reduce ballooning energy subsidies, which were projected to cost ₦2.9 trillion in 2024.
Even with the increase, ₦2.8 trillion was still allocated to subsidies. NERC estimated that the adjustment could save ₦1.14 trillion.
Still, the move sparked backlash. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) called it “an additional burden on already struggling citizens.” The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry also warned it would drive up costs for SMEs.
Grid Failures, Off-Grid Shift
Despite improvements in power generation, Nigeria’s national grid remains fragile. In 2024 alone, it collapsed at least 12 times, triggering blackouts in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
Adelabu blamed the grid’s instability on ageing infrastructure, vandalism, and erratic gas supply. He called for regionalising the grid to prevent nationwide outages.
He also lamented the sector’s dependence on imported equipment, which continues to pressure Nigeria’s foreign reserves.
Due to frequent outages, many Nigerians now rely on petrol and diesel generators, which collectively produce 40,000 megawatts—eight times what the grid delivers. Several states are now turning to mini-grids and independent power markets.
“Until the national grid becomes truly reliable, Nigerians—both businesses and individuals—will continue to seek alternative solutions. Our task is to reverse that trend by fixing the fundamentals,” Adelabu concluded.