The Federal Government has unveiled plans to build modular solar power stations across the 19 northern states, with a total capacity of 1,900 megawatts, as part of its broader push to improve energy access and boost renewable electricity generation nationwide.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Thursday, April 17, during the sixth edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja.
He also revealed that the government is targeting 8,000MW of electricity generation and distribution by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in 2027.
Each state in the north is expected to host a 100MW solar-powered plant aimed at reducing reliance on the national grid while ensuring decentralised energy access.
“In addition to these initiatives, private investors like Sun Africa Energy and Skipper Electric are keen to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, emphasising renewable generation and grid expansion.
“What we have today on our grid are just two types of power, hydropower and gas-powered plants,” Adelabu said.
“But with the abundance of sunshine that we have in Nigeria, nothing stops us from having utility-scale solar power generation. And we have two companies that have expressed interest in this. We have evaluated, and discussions are at a very, very high stage.”
He continued, “Number one is Sun Africa, which intends to bring in about 1,000MW of solar energy to complement the efforts of Niger Delta Power Holding Company at their various locations. And this will go straight into the grid. That’s adding solar power to our grid.”
“Then the second is Skipper Energy, who has also decided to construct modular solar power plants in the 19 states of the northern part of Nigeria, about 100MW each, so that each state will be independent and the independence of the national grid will be reduced. This will ensure that we have solar power in our national grid.”
Adelabu highlighted progress made since he assumed office, noting that daily electricity generation has increased from 4,100MW in Q3 2023 to a peak of 5,800MW in Q1 2025—an improvement of nearly 40 per cent.
“I assumed office in August 2023, and within a short time, we’ve moved from an unstable 4,100MW to a steady 5,800MW,” he said.
“Now that we have created a trajectory, if we sustain this trajectory, I can assure you that before the end of this administration in 2027, we should be able to generate and distribute nothing less than 8,000MW of power.”
He attributed this momentum to President Tinubu’s support and stated that past administrations failed to meet similar targets due to lack of consistency.
The minister acknowledged limited government funding as a constraint, adding that the expansion and upgrade of the national grid will require private sector participation.
“We have received various offers from private investors. The national grid is owned 100 per cent by the government. But I can tell you, with other ministries competing for funds, we cannot fund the national grid alone,” he said.
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He added, “With the Nigerian Independent System Operator, it will be much easier for us to invite private sector investors and let them finance the construction of new lines, construction of new substations, and introduction of new transformers.”
Adelabu pointed to improvements in grid stability and capacity. He said the grid can now carry up to 8,700MW, thanks to recent investments.
“To strengthen this critical network, TCN commissioned 61 new transformers, totalling 5,589 MVA in 2024. Followed by nine additional transformers in quarter one of 2025 across key locations in Lagos, Benin, Bauchi, Oshogbo, Kano, and Kaduna,” he noted.
“In the 2025 appropriation, we already have N25 billion to support TCN to complete some of these projects, and that will also improve power supply.”
He also highlighted the role of the Presidential Power Initiative, which has already delivered infrastructure in 13 locations, adding 700MW to the national grid.
“We experienced several grid disturbances towards the end of last year, but since January up till today, four months into the new year, we have not seen any major disturbance to the grid.
“I can assure you, we do everything possible to maintain and sustain the current scenario,” Adelabu said. “If there’s any little disturbance, our turnaround time is being worked upon; within one to two hours, the grid will be up.”
According to him, 150 million Nigerians currently have electricity access, leaving an estimated 80 million still underserved.
“As it is today, Nigeria—a country with about 240 million people—has access for 150 million people already, while about 80 million lack access to adequate electricity in Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed the need for affordability and reliability, calling these the true measures of energy access.
The minister also announced ongoing work to regionalise the national grid by creating eastern and western supergrids to prevent nationwide blackouts caused by localised faults.
Turning to the long-abandoned Kaduna Power Plant, Adelabu said the 215MW facility is now 87 per cent completed and will become operational by the end of 2025.
“It is 87 per cent completed, but was neglected for six years since 2018/2019. They have stopped working on it,” he said.
“I inspected it and ensured that we got Mr President’s approval for us to complete this project, and it has a capacity of 215MW. So, before the end of the year, the Kaduna Power Plant will be in operation. I can assure you.”
The project was awarded in 2009 to General Electric and Rockson Engineering and was initially expected to be completed in 2013.