Nigeria Needs $10 Billion Annually to Fix Decades of Power Infrastructure Deficit – Adelabu

Kaduna, Nigeria – Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that Nigeria requires a substantial annual investment of $10 billion over the next 10 to 20 years to achieve a stable and reliable electricity supply.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after commissioning a 2.5 megawatts (MW) solar hybrid power project at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Adelabu highlighted that the nation’s power sector has been grappling with six decades of significant infrastructure deficits. These deficits, he explained, are a consequence of inadequate maintenance, limited investment, and a failure to upgrade critical transmission systems over the years.

“For us to achieve functional, reliable, and stable electricity in Nigeria, we need not less than $10 billion annually for the next ten to twenty years,” the Minister stated.
Adelabu emphasized that while this level of investment is crucial, it must be accompanied by addressing fundamental bottlenecks that have plagued the sector.

He noted that these underlying issues need to be resolved to ensure that the substantial financial commitment yields meaningful and lasting improvements in power supply across the country.

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The Minister’s statement underscores the immense challenge facing Nigeria in overhauling its power infrastructure to meet the energy demands of its growing population and economy. The commissioning of the solar hybrid power project at the NDA, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), signifies a step towards diversifying the energy mix and improving electrification in key institutions.

This revelation comes at a time when businesses and households across Nigeria continue to grapple with persistent power outages, hindering economic activities and impacting daily life. Addressing the deep-rooted infrastructure challenges in the power sector is seen as critical for unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential and ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens.