Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has expressed strong optimism that Nigeria will achieve a stable 24-hour power supply within the next five years.
The Managing Director, who recently appeared in an interview with Channels TV in Abuja, when asked about the feasibility of generating between 20,000 and 25,000 megawatts (MW) necessary for consistent power, stated, “We are going to get it in less than five years.” He added that the current Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, thoroughly assesses the sector's challenges and is committed to implementing effective solutions rather than superficial fixes.
Abdulaziz disclosed that many Nigerians are already experiencing improvements in power supply, crediting the current administration's efforts. “If you ask Nigerians honestly, they will acknowledge the progress since Adelabu took office. This trend of improvement will continue,” he added.
He also highlighted that electricity remains relatively affordable in Nigeria compared to several neighboring countries. “While electricity prices are rising here, they are still cheaper than in places like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal,” he explained, attributing the higher costs to the complexities of electricity production, including the impact of exchange rates.
Despite these reassurances, Nigeria’s power sector faces significant challenges. Currently, the national grid produces approximately 4,500 MW for over 200 million citizens—a stark contrast to South Africa, which generates around 50,000 MW for its population of about 59 million.
According to Abdulaziz, Adelabu plans to increase electricity generation capacity to 6,000 MW by the end of the year. However, many remain skeptical about how effective this expansion will be in addressing the ongoing power crisis.
Recent reports indicate that the national grid has collapsed multiple times within a single week, leading to widespread outages that have left homes and businesses without power. The latest failure occurred at 8:40 AM on Saturday when the grid's output dropped to zero megawatts (MW). By 9 AM, there was a partial recovery, with 140 MW being supplied to distribution companies (Discos).
