The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed that his reforms in the power sector have led to an increase of over 1,000MW in the national grid’s capacity within his first year in office. However, he also revealed that he has been receiving threatening calls from unknown individuals who are opposed to the progress being made.
Speaking on Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ program on Saturday, Adelabu mentioned that a powerful cartel is sabotaging the sector. He highlighted that it is not ordinary citizens but organized groups that are responsible for acts such as blowing up power transmission substations and pulling down power lines.
Adelabu, who is the 49th Minister of Power in Nigeria, emphasized that despite the resistance, he is committed to overcoming these challenges. He pointed out that, under his leadership, electricity generation has increased from 4,000MW to 5,155MW as of August 8, 2024. He set a goal of reaching 6,000MW by the end of the year with the Federal Government’s support.
The Minister also stressed the importance of energy consumers paying their bills, noting that this is essential for the sustainability of the improvements in the power sector. He argued that, when compared to the high costs of running generators, Nigerians can afford their energy bills, regardless of the price.