On Monday, the Nigerian national grid reached a record peak of 5,313 megawatts, the highest in the past three years. This milestone was announced by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, during an event in Beijing, China, on the eve of the African-China Cooperation Summit.
Adelabu encouraged Distribution Companies to leverage this achievement by distributing more energy to prevent grid instability. He emphasized that when energy produced isn’t fully utilized by these companies, it can cause power frequency drops, and he highlighted the need for industries to purchase bulk energy.
During the event, the Federal Government signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Mutual Commitment Company Limited, a Chinese firm. These agreements, facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Federal Ministry of Power, are seen as significant steps forward in advancing Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
Representing Nigeria were Chief Adebayo Adelabu and Abba Aliyu, the Managing Director of REA. Adelabu praised the signing of the MoUs, calling it a significant achievement for Nigeria. He commended the efforts of the REA and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) and underscored the importance of these agreements for Nigeria’s renewable energy goals.
Adelabu noted the common challenges faced by populous countries like Nigeria and China, particularly in energy access and job creation. He expressed his satisfaction that these efforts align with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which prioritizes the power sector as the foundation for all other critical sectors of the economy.
He further emphasized that energy access and expansion are top government priorities, as a reliable electricity sector is essential for national progress. Adelabu criticized the long-standing centralization of Nigeria’s power sector, which he said has hindered progress. He pointed out that nearly 40 percent of Nigeria’s population lacks access to energy, with severe consequences.
To address this, the government has decided to adopt a distributed power model to ensure wider energy access, especially in rural areas and critical institutions like universities and hospitals. Adelabu highlighted the focus on renewable energy as a scalable solution that can operate independently of the national grid, which is currently under significant pressure.
As Nigeria expands its energy access, Adelabu also stressed the importance of transitioning to cleaner, sustainable energy sources. He outlined the country’s targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 and to have 30 percent of its energy generation from renewable sources by 2030.
The two MoUs, he said, are vital for realizing the vision for the renewable energy sub-sector, focusing on developing local capacity and reducing dependence on imports. Adelabu also highlighted the potential for job creation, particularly for Nigeria’s growing youth population, as the country’s educational institutions continue to produce graduates in need of employment.
Adelabu pointed to the success of other African countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria in achieving near-universal electrification, lamenting that Nigeria still lags behind at 62 percent. He stressed that with Nigeria’s natural resources—gas, hydroelectric dams, wind, and solar power—the country has no excuse for not achieving similar progress.
He concluded that initiatives like the ones being signed today will boost Nigeria’s electrification level, stimulate economic growth, reduce foreign exchange expenditure on imports, and create jobs through local manufacturing.
Abba Aliyu, speaking earlier, reiterated the significance of the MoUs, emphasizing their potential to fulfill the Presidential mandate of building local capacity and creating job opportunities. He assured that the government would monitor the progress of these initiatives to ensure they deliver on their commitments.
Yan Zhezhu, Vice Chairman of MCC, expressed appreciation for the Nigerian government’s commitment to energy growth. Speaking through an interpreter, he noted MCC’s ongoing projects in Maiduguri and Kaduna and their long-standing partnership with Nigeria, promising continued cooperation and development.