By, Omowumi Hannah

 

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has stated the commitment of the Tinubu led administration to delivering optimum power to the social and economic sectors through regular dialogue and engagement in the mobilization of support in the sector.

The Minister stated this at a high level meeting with the power stakeholders including the officials of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Ibadan Distribution Electricity Company, NISO at the IBEDC South West Regional office in Ibadan, on Friday.

He said that the Tinubu-led administration has invested ₦700 billion in the power sector, with an additional $500 million dollars through the World Bank from 2023 till date, identifying four key areas affecting the sector including supply inadequacy, loss in investment, billing and revenue collection efficiency, and inadequate power supply.

 

He noted that the federal government has taken steps to address these challenges, including the implementation of the 2024 Electricity Regulatory Commission Law, which aims to decentralize and liberalize the sector.

“There has been increase in the country’s installed capacity for energy
generation from 13GW to 14GW and the attainment of an all-
time generation peak of 5,801.44 MW and a maximum daily
energy record of 128,370.75 MWh on March 4, 2025.”

“Successful mobilization of NGN 700 billion funding from FAAC to implement the Presidential Metering Initiative, aimed at
tackling the sector’s long-standing metering gap with 2million
metres annually. This is complemented by the World Bank
DISREP fund of $500m adding 3.45m metres to the sector.
Procurement of the meters have commenced”, he added.

While reacting to public complaints of the Oyo State House of Assembly through a motion co-sponsored by the speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and Member representing Ibarapa North/ Central, Hon. Peter Ojedokun in her last Thursday’s plenary over poor power supply in the Constituency and across Oyo State, Adelabu highlighted the twenty-one of the 35 ongoing power projects in Oyo State, including the Maya-Ibarapa-Igangan, Iseyin-Okeho, Lalupon-Ejioku, and Ikere Gorge Dam, among others, which are expected to be completed soon to enhance power distribution in the state.

“Let me state here that Oyo State is fortunate in this President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration for having her son as Minister of Power. For the first time, 35 power projects have been approved with 21 of them nearing completion. This includes Maya-Igangan, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Ikere Gorge Dam, Lalupon-Ejioku, others.”

“Oyo State lawmakers should wake from ignorance. Electricity is no longer on exclusive list but concurrent. The lawmakers should investigate malfunctioning of the 11 megawatts power project executed by Governor Seyi Makinde, while we make concerted efforts at improving the power. I am sure when all the ongoing power projects are completed there will be greater improvement and investment in the sector”, he noted.

Earlier, the General Manager of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Francis Agoha, acknowledged the short power supply in recent times but assured that the company is working to improve power distribution, with the installation of 59,000 free meters within the next two months.

The meeting was aimed at addressing the challenges facing the power sector and finding solutions to improve electricity supply across the country, particularly in the South West and parts of North East