The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that the proposed electricity tariff increase will push available generation capacity to approximately 7,000 megawatts. This follows the country’s record peak electricity generation of 5,801.84MW achieved last week.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu explained that regularizing tariffs is crucial to unlocking the sector’s full potential and improving power generation and distribution.

“To sustain these improvements, the Government would have to pay down on the tariff shortfalls of N1.94 trillion for 2024 and legacy debts of N2 trillion to the GENCOs. It would be important to continue the tariff reforms to ensure consumers start to pay for the energy consumed. By the time the tariffs are fully regularized, we will be moving closer to 7,000 MW of available generation capacity. This will mark another significant milestone in our journey towards a stable, reliable, and efficient power sector that meets the needs of all Nigerians,” Adelabu stated.

Last week, the minister revealed the government’s plan to raise electricity tariffs for customers in Bands B, C, and D as part of efforts to boost liquidity in the sector and reduce government subsidy obligations. The proposed tariff adjustment is expected to narrow the gap between Band A customers and those in other categories.

According to the statement, available power generation has now risen to 6,003MW, the highest in Nigeria’s history. It was followed by a peak generation evacuation of 5,801.84MW and a daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh).

“We are thrilled to announce these historic milestones in Nigeria’s power sector. The record available generation of 6,003MW, the peak evacuation of 5,801.84MW, and the daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75MWh are testaments to the hard work, dedication, and strategic reforms being implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu,” the statement read.

The minister emphasized that these achievements are not just statistics but represent progress toward a future where businesses thrive, households enjoy uninterrupted power, and the economy grows sustainably. He expressed hope for the continuity of these records and further improvements in the sector.

Tunji quoted the minister as saying that the recent progress results from concerted efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power, in collaboration with key stakeholders, to tackle long-standing challenges and optimize the country’s power infrastructure. These efforts include rehabilitating and upgrading transmission and distribution networks, implementing innovative technologies, and introducing policy reforms to enhance efficiency and accountability.

While celebrating the achievements, Adelabu called for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders, including state governments, private sector players, and the general public, to ensure that the progress made in the power sector is maintained and further built upon.