Nigeria has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, with 150 million citizens now enjoying adequate power supply, according to Minister of Power Adedayo Adelabu. However, 80 million Nigerians remain without reliable electricity, highlighting ongoing challenges in the nation’s energy sector.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference in Abuja alongside Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Malagi and other stakeholders, Adelabu credited Nigeria’s progress to its participation in “Mission 300,” a World Bank and African Development Bank initiative aiming to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
“Nigeria is on track to contribute 25 percent of the initiative’s target, roughly 75 million people,” Adelabu said. “Our compact focuses on enhancing electricity access, boosting renewable energy, and improving clean cooking solutions.”
Despite the gains, Adelabu stressed that reliability and affordability remain critical hurdles. “Access is one thing, but stable and cost-effective power is how we measure success,” he noted. With Nigeria’s population exceeding 240 million, ensuring consistent electricity for all is a pressing priority.
The minister called on global financiers to balance investments in renewable energy, ideal for rural areas, with strengthening the national power grid to support urban centers and industries. “Over-reliance on renewables risks neglecting grid infrastructure,” he warned, pointing to the growing trend of Nigerian companies turning to captive power generation due to unreliable grid supply.
