After missing the December 31, 2024 deadline set by the Federal Government to generate 6,000 Megawatts of power, Nigeria’s average hourly electricity generation rose marginally by three percent in January 2025 to 4,681MW from 4,524MW recorded in December, 2025, latest data posted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has indicated.
NERC, in its operational performance of power plants fact sheet released yesterday, showed that Egbin Power Plant, 538MW; Kainji Hydro, 459MW and Delta Power Plant, 443MW were the largest power generators to the grid in the first month of 2025.
The data also indicated that with an installed capacity of 13,625MW, plants’ available capacity remains very low at 39.2 percent or 5,339MW in January 2025. This was however marginally higher by two percent from average available capacity of 5,237MW recorded in December, 2024.
The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry’s failure to improve capacity availability and utilisation has remained a source of concern to the Federal Government over the years.
Last year, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu had given operators a December 31 deadline to improve generation to 6,000MW, which was eventually not met.
Regional grid to boost supply
Faced with an unreliable national grid system, the Federal Government has turned to a regional grid system as an alternative using renewable energy sources.
Speaking at a Roundtable held in partnership with Jigawa State Government, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, stated that REA was committed to the implementation of least-cost electrification strategies, backed up by data and efficient sustainability mechanisms.
Abba Aliyu explained that “Jigawa State has the potential to immediately electrify 1m people using solar mini-grids, to catalyze socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the State”.
He disclosed that currently, the REA is implementing a total of 21 ongoing mini-grid projects across 21 LGAs in Jigawa State through the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) – Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST), to energize over 300, 000 people.
Also speaking, Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi explained that “the potential and opportunities for the development of renewable energy projects in Jigawa State are limitless, from the policy environment to the political commitment. From the comparative advantage of the State’s physical environment to the existing conducive climate. The prospects are enormous”.