The federal government announced that the national grid in Nigeria is expected to be boosted by 780MW when the three Hydropower Plant projects begin operation. These projects include the nearly completed Dadin-Kowa dam complex in Gombe and the Kashimbila project in Taraba as well as the Zungeru hydroelectricity power plant in Niger state.

Speaking on the fourth day of the Fifth National Council on Power (NACOP) meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, highlighted that the projects that are at least 97 percent complete would assist resolve some of the shortfalls that Nigerians are now experiencing.

The council, according to the minister, was established to promote the creation of synergy in the design and policy implementation which would propel the country to the next stage of industrial development. Aliyu emphasized that the government was now investing in power infrastructure, particularly in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), through a number of interventions, with the goal of improving the sector.

Some international organizations have supported the idea of improving the national grid in Nigeria

He said that in order to improve the national grid, some of these operations were being supported by international organizations including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and a host of others.

He added that regarding government-to-government cooperation, a contract between Germany and Nigeria led to a credit agreement that was offered on favorable terms through the Siemens Company to revive the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and the industry’s value chain.

“Orders had been placed for the acquisition of 10 morbid transformers and 10 mobile substations through the agreement with Siemens. The 10 morbid power transformers that will be distributed throughout the nation have begun to arrive,” the minister added.

He cited the Nigerian government’s development of the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy and the associated 30:30:30 goal that seeks to generate 30,000MW of electricity by 2030, with renewable energy making up 30% of the energy mix.

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He stated, “It is clear from ongoing and finished projects like the Zungeru Hydroelectricity Power Project, which is 97% complete. Among other things, the Dadin-Kowa Dam and the Kashimbila Hydroelectricity Project each contribute 40mw to the national grid in Nigeria.”

Additionally, Muhammad Bello, Minister of FCT, emphasized that power remains crucial to industrial growth and fuels the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, he pointed out that the expansion of the whole value chain of the electricity supply business was a result of the current administration’s efforts to increase the power supply.