From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said Nigeria needs $10 billions annually to fix the perennial power sector crisis, and expressed optimism that it is a Herculean task that must be achieved in the next 20 years.
He spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the phase 1-600kw Solar pv power plant at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, yesterday.
According to the Minister, “For us to achieve functional, reliable and stable electricity in Nigeria, we need about $10 billion annually for the next 10 to 20 years. But, there are some foundational bottlenecks that we experienced in the past that need to be fixed for spending of this money to have meaning.
“Number one is the legislative and policy foundation which this administration has achieved by signing the energy bill into an Act. This bill has achieved liberation and decentralisation of the power sector to enable all levels of government – federal, State and local, to legally and morally play roles in the power sector to give their citizens electricity at sub national levels. This has given autonomy to more than 11 states and more are still coming. They can now play roles in the power sector from generation to transmission, distribution and even metering.
“Secondly, we talk about infrastructure deficit, then we talk about fixing infrastructure deficit, which has piled up over the last 60 years due to lack of maintenance and lack of additional investment to revive our transmission grid.”
The Minister also emphasised the need to bridge over 50 percent metering gap, which he said the Presidential initiative aims to achieve through 18 million meter installation in the next five years.
Earlier, while addressing military officers at the NDA, the Minister said: “I stand before you today at this significant occasion, the commissioning of the 600kW and 3MW Solar PV Power Plant here at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy.
“These projects, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency not only underscores our commitment to improving electrification across key institutions in Nigeria but it is also part of our broader mandate to diversify our energy sources, expand access to clean and reliable electricity and support critical sectors of our national development, including education and security.
“As an institution that combines academic rigour with military excellence, the Nigerian Defence Academy represents a strategic national asset that must be strengthened through sustainable infrastructure.
“Powering the Academy with renewable energy aligns with our vision for a secure, self-reliant and energy-efficient Nigeria. It also reflects our commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises accelerated national development through universal energy access.
“Importantly, this project also allows us to reflect on the enduring partnership between the Nigerian power sector and the Nigerian Armed Forces. I wish to specially commend and thank the military for its consistent support in protecting critical power infrastructure across the country. Without your steadfast commitment, our efforts to deliver stable and reliable electricity would be significantly constrained.
“Your role is becoming even more indispensable, given the rising cases of vandalism on critical power assets and attacks on power sector personnel across the country. As part of effort to address this problem, we urge the continued collaboration of the Nigerian Armed Forces in safeguarding the sector’s infrastructure and workforce.
“As we deepen this collaboration, it is essential that our partnership is rooted in mutual respect and understanding.
Recent developments, such as the regrettable incident involving military personnel and staff of Ikeja Electric, are unfortunate and counterproductive. Such actions undermine the progress we all seek to achieve and should be avoided.
“The power sector and the military are not on opposing sides; we are allies in the pursuit of national development.
“Our shared objective is a Nigeria, where sustainable electricity supply supports growth, security and prosperity for all.
“As we commission these power plants today, let it stand not only as a symbol of clean energy advancement but also as a sign of further cooperation between the Nigerian power sector and the Nigeria military,” the Minister said.
In his welcome address, the NDA Commandant, Major General Abdul Ibrahim, expressed appreciation and satisfaction to the initiative in the power sector and assured synergy with the Ministry of Power.