The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that Nigeria requires $10 billion annually over the next 20 years to attain a stable and reliable electricity supply.
Speaking at the commissioning of a 2.5-megawatt solar hybrid power project at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Adelabu pointed to chronic issues such as poor maintenance, inadequate investment, and an outdated transmission grid as key factors behind Nigeria’s decades-long power sector deficit.
“To achieve functional and stable electricity in Nigeria, we need at least $10 billion annually for the next 20 years,” he said.
Adelabu emphasized that simply injecting funds won’t be effective unless foundational bottlenecks are addressed first. He cited the recently signed Energy Act as a crucial reform, noting that it has decentralized the power sector, empowering federal, state, and local governments to actively participate in generation, transmission, distribution, and metering.
“The Act has given autonomy to more than 11 states — and more are on the way — to manage their electricity needs,” he added.
He reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening energy infrastructure and providing sustainable power to critical national institutions.
The minister also underscored the urgent need to fix the infrastructure deficit, which has accumulated over six decades, warning that without strategic investment and reforms, the electricity sector will remain inefficient and unable to meet national demands.
