On September 4, 2024, Nigeria reached a historic milestone in its power sector, with electricity generation hitting 5,313 megawatts (MW), the highest level in three years. This achievement was announced by Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.
Minister Adelabu welcomed this progress but also emphasized the need for Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to increase their uptake of generated power to avoid potential grid collapses. He warned that failure to pick up the generated power could lead to a drop in frequency and ultimately a grid collapse.
Adelabu also highlighted ongoing efforts to encourage industries to purchase bulk energy, aiming to sustain the progress and prevent any disruptions in power supply. The Nigerian government has set an ambitious target of generating 6,000 MW of electricity by the end of the year, a promise made in May as part of its broader energy goals.
In his address during a recent ministerial briefing, Adelabu noted that power generation had previously risen to 5,000 MW on May 3, 2024, marking significant improvement in the sector since President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023. Adelabu remains confident that Nigeria will achieve its target of 6,000 MW before the year concludes, given the sector's positive trajectory in 2024.