AFRICA | Energy & Infrastructure
The former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, disclosed that Nigeria will need and supply at least 100,000 megawatts (MW) of power in order to meet its energy needs and drive economic development.
Talking to ARISE NEWS, Nnaji emphasized that current power generation capacity is far short of what is required, describing Nigeria's power infrastructure as inadequate, outdated, and not capable of driving industrial growth.
"We need a minimum of 100,000 megawatts of power to be available—not installed capacity—available to the whole country," he said.
Despite decades of reform efforts, Nnaji stated that Nigeria's power sector remains structurally weak and financially unsustainable, with critical gaps in the generation, transmission, and distribution value chains.
He added that the transmission infrastructure is now incapable of supporting large-scale power delivery, and an overhaul of the power sector is a national imperative on an urgent basis.
Currently, the network of power transmission is not in a position to absorb the level of power we require. We need to upgrade infrastructure at all levels of generation to distribution," he warned.
Financing and Policy Reform Call
The federal government was urged by Professor Nnaji to review earlier financial structures with the intent of encouraging private investment, like a guarantee instrument that would reassure investors in the variety of energy sources—solar, gas, hydro, and more.
Such guarantees are needed. They enable power producers to invest in the assurance that they can sell power to DISCOs \\[Distribution Companies]."
He was skeptical that state governments could provide such guarantees individually, although he did indicate that more populous or financially sound states—such as Lagos—might have that capability.
"We need a national conversation around financing, generation capacity, and strengthening transmission and distribution systems."
Synchronizing Energy Solutions with Regional Competencies
Nnaji, the Geometric Power Limited chairman and founder, also advocated for a regionally strategic energy mix. He suggested investment in sun-abundant locations for solar power and natural gas facilities in regions producing gas, siting power plants where they are most economically and technically viable.
"We must leverage regional strengths. It's a myth that power must be generated right beside where it's being consumed. With proper infrastructure, electricity can be transmitted over long distances very efficiently."
Increasing Distribution Capacity
He also called upon distribution companies to invest more in their infrastructure to ensure guaranteed delivery to end-users.
"Even if generation and transmission are improved, without strong distribution networks, the power still won't get to the people."
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