80 million Nigerians lack adequate electricity access, says Power Minister

By Kunle Sanni

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has disclosed that while over 150 million Nigerians have some level of access to electricity, at least 80 million people across the country still lack adequate power supply — a reality that highlights deeper issues beyond infrastructure reach.

Adelabu made this known on Thursday during the ministerial briefing held at the Radio House in Abuja, where he addressed Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges and outlined steps toward improving access and reliability.

He emphasized that the true problem lies not just in providing access but in the “liability” of that access — measured by reliability, stability, and affordability. “As it is today in Nigeria, with over 200 million people, we have access for over 150 million people already, while about 80 million people lack access to adequate power supply,” Adelabu said. “The issue is not about access, it is about the liability of this access.”

Highlighting Nigeria’s strategic engagement in continental initiatives, Adelabu pointed to “Vision 300,” a program led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) that aims to extend energy access to 300 million Africans by 2030 — about half of the estimated 600 million people currently without electricity on the continent.

According to him, Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from the initiative, with the potential to secure energy access for at least 75 million Nigerians. “Out of the 300 million Africans that the World Bank and AfDB want to give energy access to, Nigeria is in a position to claim nothing less than 25 percent of the funds,” he said.

Adelabu explained that Vision 300 is backed by $30 billion in funding — with $30 billion coming from the World Bank, $5 billion from the AfDB, and further contributions expected from philanthropic organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and other international partners.

The minister further outlined the five-pillar strategy of the Vision 300 project, which includes expanding energy generation, strengthening utilities, incentivizing private sector investment, accelerating renewable energy adoption, and boosting regional energy integration.

He also referenced Nigeria’s active role in regional collaboration through platforms like the West African Power Pool and cited the Energy Exchange Institute commissioned in Cotonou in 2024 as part of broader efforts to promote cross-border energy transactions and ensure energy security across West Africa.