Nigeria must commit at least $10 billion (approximately N14 trillion) each year for the next 10 to 20 years if it hopes to resolve its persistent electricity problems, according to Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
He made the statement while commissioning a 600kW solar photovoltaic power plant at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.
Calling the challenge immense yet within reach, Adelabu stressed the necessity of sustained financial investment, policy reforms, and infrastructure upgrades to deliver a reliable and stable power supply across the country.
“To achieve functional, reliable, and stable electricity in Nigeria, we need not less than $10 billion annually for the next ten to twenty years,” he said.
The minister noted that recent changes in the sector, including the enactment of a new energy law, have provided the legal framework needed to decentralise the power industry. This shift is intended to allow state governments to become more involved in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and metering.
He drew attention to Nigeria’s significant infrastructure shortfall, attributing it to years of underfunding and inadequate maintenance. To address this, Adelabu unveiled plans to install 18 million electricity meters across the country within the next five years, aiming to bridge the nation’s metering gap.
Adelabu also commended the military’s essential role in protecting energy infrastructure and urged for stronger cooperation in response to increasing cases of vandalism and assaults on power sector personnel.
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