By Milcah Tanimu

Nigeria’s power sector has achieved a significant milestone with a record generation of 5,105 megawatts (MW) on July 27, 2024, the highest level in three years. This announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Power Sector Working Group in Abuja.

Adelabu highlighted this achievement as a notable improvement from the previous average generation capacity of around 4,000MW. He expressed optimism about future goals, setting a target of reaching 6,000MW by December. This ambitious goal is aligned with the broader vision of enhancing Nigeria’s power infrastructure to support economic growth and industrialisation.

The meeting emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts across various government ministries to realize these objectives. Adelabu stressed that power generation and management require input from multiple sectors beyond the Ministry of Power. He outlined the ministry’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, Budget and Planning, and Petroleum Resources, especially in relation to renewable energy initiatives.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, underscored the synergistic relationship between his ministry and the Ministry of Power, advocating for joint efforts to advance the President’s renewable energy agenda. Similarly, the Minister of Environment, represented by Iziaq Salako, highlighted the need for effective waste management alongside the development of sustainable energy solutions.

The working group will focus on several key areas, including enhancing power sector liquidity, refining the governance of electricity distribution companies, and advancing the energy transition program with an eye toward achieving net zero emissions by 2060.

These collaborative efforts are aimed at not only increasing power generation and distribution but also ensuring that the benefits extend to households, businesses, and industries nationwide.