Despite Nigeria’s ongoing electricity shortages, more than 10,000 megawatts of installed power capacity remain unused in idle plants across the country, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has disclosed.

Speaking at the Nigeria Energy Conference in Lagos, Adelabu highlighted that the nation’s immediate challenge is not power generation but the transmission and distribution of electricity to homes and businesses.

“Nigeria has significant generation capacity that is simply not being utilized. The real issue lies in effectively transmitting and distributing this energy,” the minister said.

Adelabu pointed to specific examples of wasted resources, including the Aluminium Smelting Company in Akwa Ibom, which houses six turbines capable of producing 540 megawatts. The plant has remained idle for two decades due to minor transmission gaps. Similarly, the Port Harcourt Refinery has an 84-megawatt power facility sitting idle, with the potential for an additional 120 megawatts.

“These are assets built with billions of naira, lying unused while millions of Nigerians continue to experience power outages. It is a clear indication of inefficiency and complacency in the sector,” Adelabu added.

The minister further encouraged state governments to take advantage of the Electricity Act of 2023, which allows them to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently. He also assured investors that current government policies now favor private investment and long-term development in the power sector.

“Through strategic collaboration and sustained investment, Nigeria has the potential to become a regional leader in energy,” he said.

Adelabu’s statements underline the pressing need for Nigeria to optimize its existing power infrastructure and tackle long-standing transmission bottlenecks to improve electricity access nationwide.