Nigeria’s National Grid reached a milestone on Monday, achieving a record high of 5,313 megawatts, the highest in three years.
This significant development was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, during an event in Beijing, China, on the eve of the opening ceremony of the African-China Cooperation Summit on Tuesday.
While speaking at the event, Chief Adelabu emphasized the importance of this achievement and urged Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to capitalize on the increased energy availability to prevent grid collapses.
He highlighted the issue of frequency drops, which occur when power produced is not adequately picked up by DISCOs, and stressed the need for industries to purchase bulk energy to stabilize the grid.
In conjunction with this announcement, the Nigerian government signed two critical Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Mutual Commitment Company Limited, a Chinese firm. The MoUs were facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), under the Federal Ministry of Power.
The event marked a significant step forward in Nigeria’s pursuit of enhanced energy access and renewable energy adoption.
Chief Adelabu, who was present alongside REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu, underscored the importance of the MoU signing, stating, “This event is important and will go down as a memorable day for Nigeria.”
He extended his congratulations to the REA and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) for their roles in advancing Nigeria’s vision for the renewable energy subsector.
The Minister remarked, “I know Nigeria and China have a lot of things in common, one of which is the fact that both countries are high-population nations. With a high population comes pressure, especially in energy access and job creation. Taking steps to address both is a cause for joy. I am particularly happy that this is happening during the tenure of President Bola Tinubu, as it aligns with achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.”
Chief Adelabu reiterated President Tinubu’s prioritization of the power sector as the driver for all other critical sectors of the economy, stating, “He is giving us all the support to ensure we deliver on his electoral promises.”
He further noted that energy access and expansion are major government priorities, emphasizing the necessity of a strong, stable, and reliable electricity sector.
The Minister also highlighted Nigeria’s shift from a centralized power model to a distributed energy model, which aims to ensure energy access for all Nigerians, particularly those in rural areas.
“We have relied so much on centralization of our power sector for so long that it is not taking us anywhere,” he said, pointing out that nearly 40% of Nigeria’s population still lacks access to electricity.
Adelabu stressed the importance of renewable energy in this new approach, noting that it is scalable and can operate independently of the national grid, which is currently under significant pressure.
“As Nigeria continues to expand energy access, we also want to achieve a transition to cleaner sources of energy that are sustainable and environment-friendly,” he added.
The Minister outlined Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2060 and increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 30% by 2030. He expressed confidence that the MoUs signed would play a crucial role in this transition, focusing on developing local capacity, creating jobs, and reducing dependency on imports.
According to Chief Adelabu, the MoUs will also contribute to Nigeria’s GDP growth by stimulating economic activities and reducing foreign exchange expenditure on imports.
“A step like today’s will enable us to move up on our level of electrification,” he said, citing the potential for job creation and local assembly of energy infrastructure.
REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu, who also spoke at the event, emphasized the importance of the MoU signing for building local capacity and creating job opportunities.
“We will track this and ensure the delivery of the commitment within the tenure of the present administration,” he assured.
Mutual Commitment Company Limited, which is already engaged in Nigeria with ongoing projects in Maiduguri and Kaduna, expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy growth.
Vice Chairman Yan Zhezhu, speaking through an interpreter, praised the Nigerian government’s cooperation and expressed the company’s readiness to do more in the country.
This strategic partnership between Nigeria and China marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to expand energy access, promote renewable energy, and build a sustainable future.