President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has announced plans to increase the national grid’s capacity by 150 megawatts (MW) before the end of 2024.
Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, disclosed this on Thursday during a briefing with State House correspondents following a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting included German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and President Tinubu.
Adelabu attributed the planned upgrade to progress made under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), which has reached 80% completion in its pilot phase.
“We have completed 80% of the pilot phase of this project,” the minister explained. “This involves importing, installing, and commissioning 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations. Most of them have been commissioned, with only two remaining, which will be completed before the end of the year.”
Adelabu added that the pilot phase has already boosted the grid’s transmission capacity by 750MW, contributing to the relative stability seen in recent months.
“By the end of the year, we expect an additional 150MW to be added as we finalize the pilot phase,” he said.
The minister’s statement comes amidst ongoing challenges with Nigeria’s aging power infrastructure. The national grid recently experienced its 12th collapse this year, leaving millions without electricity.
Experts have attributed these frequent grid failures to outdated infrastructure and other systemic issues. However, Adelabu assured Nigerians that the government is committed to long-term solutions.
“When we complete the Phase One transmission project, the entire grid will undergo a significant transformation,” he said. “This grid is old, fragile, and deteriorating, but we are working to revamp it completely to ensure long-term stability.”
The government’s efforts aim to modernize Nigeria’s power infrastructure and improve electricity reliability for millions of Nigerians.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
