Nigeria’s ambitious target to achieve 6,000 megawatts of electricity generation by December 2024 has fallen short, with Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu attributing the setback to widespread vandalism of critical transmission infrastructure. The revelation comes as Africa’s largest economy continues to grapple with persistent power supply challenges, currently generating between 4,000 MW and 4,900 MW for its population of approximately 200 million.
The government’s strategic roadmap for power sector improvement faced significant disruption due to repeated attacks on electricity towers, derailing what officials describe as steady progress toward the targeted capacity. According to Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, the ministry had made substantial strides, adding roughly 1,000 megawatts to the national grid since the current administration took office.
Recent operational data paints a sobering picture of the current situation, with power generation standing at 4,363.79MW as of Saturday morning. This figure, while representing an improvement from earlier periods, falls significantly short of the promised 6,000MW target that Minister Adelabu had confidently projected earlier in the year.
The ministry’s optimism had been buoyed by notable achievements, including reaching 5,231 megawatts by November 27. However, the persistent challenge of infrastructure vandalism, coupled with frequent grid collapses, has severely impacted the stability of electricity supply across the nation. Tunji emphasized the progress made despite the setbacks. “If you look at the situation when the current administration took office, the generation was just about 4,000 megawatts. However, within a year, about 1,000 megawatts were added,” he explained, highlighting the initial positive trajectory that had fueled confidence in achieving the December target.
The power sector’s struggles reflect deeper infrastructural and security challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity distribution network. The country’s 19 power generation plants, while showing potential for increased capacity, continue to operate below optimal levels due to various constraints, including vandalism and technical issues.
The ministry’s acknowledgment of falling short of its target comes amid growing frustration from consumers and businesses who continue to face irregular power supply. However, officials maintain that efforts to enhance grid stability and increase generation capacity remain ongoing, despite the setbacks.
Security concerns around power infrastructure have emerged as a critical challenge for the sector’s development. The frequent targeting of transmission equipment by vandals not only disrupts current supply but also undermines long-term efforts to expand and stabilize the power grid.
Despite the setback, the ministry remains committed to its goal of improving power supply. “We are not resting on our oars to ensure additional supply to the grid,” Tunji assured, indicating ongoing efforts to address both the immediate challenges of vandalism and the broader goal of increasing generation capacity.
The situation highlights the complex interplay between infrastructure development, security challenges, and the ambitious targets set for Nigeria’s power sector. As the country moves into 2025, the focus appears to be shifting toward not just increasing generation capacity but also securing existing infrastructure against vandalism.
The ministry’s experience underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to power sector development, one that addresses not only technical and capacity issues but also the security of critical infrastructure. The challenge of meeting growing power demands while protecting transmission assets remains a crucial factor in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to achieve stable electricity supply.
As the government reassesses its strategies for power sector improvement, the experience of 2024 serves as a reminder of the multiple challenges facing Nigeria’s energy infrastructure development, from technical limitations to security concerns and the critical need for infrastructure protection measures.
