Connect with us

News

FG to Invest $800 Million in Power Infrastructure, Targets 6,000 MW Capacity by Year-End

Published

on

Photo source: Google

The Federal Government has announced plans to invest $800 million in the development of substations and distribution networks as part of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

This information was shared in a statement released by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communication to the Minister of Power, in Abuja on Sunday.

Tunji highlighted that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed the investment plans during his visit to the TBEA Southern Power Transmission and Distribution Industry in Beijing, China.

The minister is currently in Beijing attending the China-Africa Cooperation Summit, a platform focused on fostering collaboration between African nations and China.

According to Adelabu, the $800 million investment will be split into two equal parts: $400 million will go toward Lot 2, which encompasses the franchise areas of the Benin, Port Harcourt, and Enugu Distribution Companies (DISCOs), while the remaining $400 million will be allocated to Lot 3, covering the franchise regions of the Abuja, Kaduna, Jos, and Kano DISCOs.

Advertisement

Adelabu expressed concern over the frequent rejection of power by DISCOs, a situation that recently caused a significant decrease in Nigeria’s power generation capacity.

The peak generation of 5,170 megawatts fell by 1,400 megawatts due to the inability of distribution companies to efficiently manage the power supply.

Despite this challenge, the minister assured that the government is determined to boost electricity generation and aims to increase capacity to 6,000 megawatts by the end of the year.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with international organizations like TBEA to fulfil President Bola Tinubu’s vision for improving the power sector, particularly in transmission, distribution, and the renewable energy segment.

Adelabu reflected on Nigeria’s past struggles with power generation, pointing out that the country was only able to increase its capacity from 2,000 megawatts in 1984 to 4,000 megawatts after more than three decades.

Advertisement

However, under the current administration, there has been notable progress, with power generation rising from 4,000 megawatts to 5,170 megawatts within just a year.

Addressing the long-standing challenges in the sector, the minister emphasized that the fragile and outdated transmission and distribution infrastructure has been a major obstacle to industrial growth.

This outdated system has contributed to the country’s unreliable power supply, affecting households, businesses, and industries alike.

Adelabu noted that more than 59% of industries in Nigeria have opted to remain off the national grid due to its unreliability.

Many of these industries have resorted to self-generation, relying on captive power sources to meet their energy needs.

Advertisement

This situation has further underscored the urgency of improving the country’s power infrastructure to ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply across the board.


 

News

‘He Was a Giant’ — President Tinubu Mourns Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs

Published

on


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.

In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.

“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”


Continue Reading

News

Deji Adeyanju Demands Action From Tinubu Over Counterfeit Products

Published

on


Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.

Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”

Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.

It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

‘Two Hours on the Road’ — Lagosians Groan Over Kara Bridge Traffic

Published

on


Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.

Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.

Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.


 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending