The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that it took Nigeria nearly 40 years to increase its power generation capacity by just 2,000 megawatts, from 2,000MW in 1984 to 4,000MW by 2022.
However, he noted that under the current administration, the country has made significant strides, boosting power generation to an impressive 6,003 megawatts in less than two years.
Adelabu shared this progress during a courtesy visit from members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Margret Oguntala. The meeting focused on potential areas of collaboration between the NSE and the Ministry of Power, including strategic partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and the important role of the NSE in providing technical advisory support on power-related issues.
The minister emphasized that, given the number of engineers Nigeria has produced, the country should have moved past many of the engineering challenges, particularly in the power sector. Reflecting on the administration’s efforts since taking office, Adelabu pointed out that while it took nearly four decades to increase power generation from 2,000 megawatts in 1984 to 4,000 megawatts by 2022, the current administration had achieved a rise to 6,003 megawatts in less than two years.
He acknowledged that while Nigeria is not yet where it should be, the progress made underscores the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to revitalizing the power sector. Adelabu encouraged the NSE to take training seriously, serve as role models for the younger generation, and inspire more interest in the profession.
The minister also stressed the need for closer collaboration between the NSE and the Ministry of Power to address the challenges facing the power sector. He expressed his willingness to work closely with the Society to tackle these issues.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of manpower development and urged the NSE to focus on the challenges impacting infrastructural development, calling such efforts a demonstration of patriotism and nationalism in contributing to the country’s growth.
