By Hosea Parah, Abuja

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday commended the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for the recent improvements in Nigeria’s power supply, while also calling for further advancements in the sector. The praise came during the Ministry’s budget presentation at the National Assembly, where lawmakers recognized the Minister’s leadership in boosting electricity generation and tackling long-standing infrastructure challenges.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, acknowledged the progress made in electricity supply, but emphasized that much more needs to be done to meet the country’s growing energy demands. Senator Ashiru Oyetola of Osun State also praised Adelabu for his deep understanding of the power sector, which has positively impacted the Ministry’s performance. However, Oyetola noted that there is still significant work to be done.

In the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Chairman of the Committee on Power, similarly commended the Minister’s efforts, but stressed that the sector still faces numerous challenges that need attention. Hon. Afam Ogene, Chairman of the Committee on Renewable Energy, along with other members such as Hon. Lanre Okunlola and Hon. Ezechi Nnamadi, echoed the need for more collaboration with the National Assembly to identify key areas requiring further government intervention.

During his presentation, Minister Adelabu highlighted significant progress in power generation, noting that capacity had risen from about 4,100 megawatts to 5,270 megawatts since his appointment. This increase, he explained, was due to enhanced operations at existing power plants and the commissioning of new plants. The Minister attributed these improvements to better use of existing infrastructure and the completion of important power projects.

However, Adelabu pointed out that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) still requires approximately N2.779 trillion to complete 149 ongoing projects spread across the country. These projects, in various stages of completion, are critical to strengthening Nigeria’s power transmission network.

The Minister also announced that the second phase of the Siemens power project under the Presidential Power Initiative is set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. This phase, following the successful completion of the pilot stage, will focus on constructing five substations across the country to stabilize the grid and reduce the frequency of grid collapses.

Adelabu further addressed the ongoing issue of vandalism, which continues to disrupt power infrastructure. He called for greater collaboration among security agencies, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and Civil Defence, to protect power assets from criminal activities. The Minister cited the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna transmission line, which was severely damaged by vandals, and stressed the importance of national efforts to prevent such attacks in the future.

Looking forward, Adelabu assured lawmakers that the Ministry remains committed to improving the national grid and minimizing power disruptions. He also revealed plans to prioritize local contractors in procurement, which will help reduce the reliance on foreign imports for power-related materials and services, saving both time and foreign exchange.

Concluding his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to overcoming the challenges facing the electricity sector in 2025, with the goal of providing Nigerians with a more stable and reliable power supply.