The Federal Government has set an ambitious target to generate at least 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity before the end of the year, according to the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu.
During an assessment visit to the Calabar Power Plant of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, the Minister outlined plans to boost power generation and implement reforms to stabilize electricity supply across Nigeria.
“We met less than 3,000 megawatts of output from the power infrastructures last year, but we have now steadily increased it, ensuring that power generation is consistently available,” Adelabu said.
The Calabar Power Plant, built about 15 years ago with a capacity of 625 MW, plays a significant role in this effort. Despite its potential, the plant has been largely underutilized.
“The plant has five power turbines, each capable of over 125 megawatts,” the Minister explained.
“Currently, three are generating power optimally for the Southeast and South South parts of the country.
“Two are undergoing turnaround maintenance, which means it is possible to generate over 500 megawatts from the Calabar power plant alone.”
The Managing Director of NDPHC, Chiedu Ugbo, highlighted the plant’s contribution to the region.
“We are presently generating power to most of the South South and South East regions of the country,” he noted.
However, he pointed out the need for more sub-transmission power stations to convey power to more areas.
Adelabu’s visit is part of a broader initiative by Tinubu’s administration to assess and revitalise the nation’s power infrastructure.
“The power sector is very critical to both the government and the national economy.
“This is why the President has asked me to visit all the power plants in the country and assess their functionality,” he stated.
Nigeria’s power sector has long been plagued by challenges, including insufficient generation capacity, outdated infrastructure, and inefficiencies in distribution.
Frequent blackouts have hampered economic growth and affected the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
The Minister acknowledged the rising energy demands and expressed the government’s commitment to meeting them.
“It is not going to be business as usual. Players in the power sector must be up and about as the federal government is reforming the sector for optimal power generation and distribution in order to meet the huge demands of Nigerians,” he asserted.
Part of the government’s strategy involves the privatization of certain power assets.
The much-talked-about privatization of the Calabar Power Plant to the Cross River State Government is currently before the Federal Privatization Council and the Federal Executive Council.
Cross River’s Commissioner for Power and Energy, Prince Eka Williams, expressed the state’s readiness to take over the plant.
“We are very ready and capable of taking over and efficiently running the firm, given the expertise available,” he said.
The 6,000 MW target could have transformative effects on Nigeria’s economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute a significant portion of the economy, often rely on generators due to unreliable power. A stable electricity supply would reduce their operational costs, leading to increased productivity and job creation.
