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The first electricity power plant in Nigeria was commissioned in 1896 (with some sources citing 1898) in Lagos. It was a 60kW generating set installed by the colonial administration to supply the town. The first formal utility company, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company (NESCO), was established later in 1929.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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Key historical milestones in Nigerian electricity:
1896/1898: First power plant installed in Lagos.
1923: First coal-fired power plant commissioned.
1929: Establishment of NESCO to operate hydro plants near Jos.
1950: Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) established to manage generation and distribution.
1972: National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) formed by merging ECN and Niger Dams Authority.
I notice a confusion in the minds of people who for personal reasons play Politics with serious STRUCTURAL ENERGY POWER IMBALANCES. They wrongly think that the problem is personal, with the President or the Minister of Power, Tinubu and Adelabu respectively.
Some funny people have once again started calling for the sack of Adelabu.
In their mind, they believe the reason why we are having epileptic power supply was because of Adelabu
And once Adelabu is removed, boom! Nigeria will start enjoying 24/7 power supply!
Bunch of clowns
Just ask some of them to state how they would solve Nigeria’s power problem if appointed as minister
Or ask them to list the problems bedeviling the nation’s power sector
You will realize how uninformed some of them are regarding Nigeria’s power sector problem.
If we like, let’s appoint “gods of thunder” as the minister, it wont yield any positive results until we do the needful.
Now that the power sector has been decentralized, the state Govt should take the bull by the horn by establishing power generating plants in their domain as well as look into the distribution aspect…
…while FG should resolve issues in the transmission segment.
*The question is, how many States have taken concrete steps since the sector is decentralised?*
DLWD from another Group Platform and dispassionately reviewed and revised as a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant.
Shu’ara Olalekan Adesina POPOOLA Esq., FCA.
09 MARCH 2026
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The first major challenge started with over-concentration of power on the Federal Goverment.
Lagos State Independent Power Project by ENRON CORPORATION.
Then Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu partnered with ENRON as Lagos State Governor, in 1999 to 2007.
When it was time to use the Energy generated, OBJ’s Federal Government insisted whatever quantity was generated must be released to the National Grid FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL NIGERIANS. That was the first challenge of Lagos IPP.
Now under PBAT, power generation is now on the concurrent list, decentralised.
To the best of my information, only 1 State out of 36 has cut herself of from the National Grid.
You may want to conduct a research to examine what all the 6 States in the South-West are doing to take advantage of this new Policy.
All of about 240 million Nigerians are still struggling with 4,000 MW of electricity. That is another major challenge you can think of.
There is also the challenge of $13 million squandered during Chief Obasanjo’s Administration on electricity generation Project that did not yield 1 unit of energy till today.
Nigeria we hail thee.
Postscript
*NIGERIA’S TOTAL INSTALLED ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY.*
Nigeria’s total installed electricity generation capacity is approximately 13,625 MW to 14,000 MW, driven largely by gas-fired thermal plants. However, the actual operational output is significantly lower, frequently hovering around 3,900 MW to 5,300 MW due to infrastructure constraints, gas supply shortages, and maintenance issues.
Business News Nigeria
Business News Nigeria
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Key details regarding Nigeria’s electricity capacity:
Installed Capacity: ~13,000 – 14,000 MW.
Operational Output: Typically 3,900 – 5,300 MW.
Available Capacity: ~7,650 MW.
Transmission Capacity: Approx. 7,300 MW.
Key Constraints: Gas supply shortages for thermal plants, low plant availability, and transmission infrastructure limitations.
Business News Nigeria
Business News Nigeria
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As of March 2026, severe gas supply shortages have further reduced generation to around 3,940 MW.
Punch Newspapers
Punch Newspapers
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REQUESTS
PLEASE FACT-CHECK MY CLAIMS AND LET ME KNOW IF MY STATEMENTS BORDER ON THE OUTRAGEOUS.
S.O.A.Pee
09 March 2026.
SB E-news.
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