Adebayo Adelabu

The federal government has announced plans to inject 1,900 megawatts of solar power into the national grid through the construction of modular solar plants across the 19 northern states. The initiative is part of a broader target to boost Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity to 8,000 MW by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in 2027.

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu disclosed this at the sixth edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja. According to him, each solar-powered station will contribute around 100 MW, helping the states achieve energy independence and reducing their over-reliance on the national grid.

Adelabu emphasized the government’s commitment to diversifying power sources, particularly through renewable energy. He noted the recent setbacks in the northern region due to vandalism of transmission infrastructure, which led to prolonged blackouts in 17 states. The minister said the solar initiative would help cushion the effects of such incidents and improve overall grid resilience.

He also revealed that private sector partnerships are being pursued to expand the grid and support renewable generation. Companies like Sun Africa and Skipper Electric are reportedly in advanced discussions with the government to develop solar projects. Sun Africa plans to inject 1,000 MW of solar energy into the grid in collaboration with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Adelabu concluded that with Nigeria’s abundant sunshine, the shift to utility-scale solar generation is both viable and necessary for sustainable national energy growth.