The Federal Government has set an ambitious goal to reach at least 6,000 megawatts of power generation by the end of 2025. Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, announced this during his visit to the Calabar Power Plant on August 13, 2024. He highlighted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu inherited a power output of less than 3,000 megawatts but has been steadily increasing it to ensure a more reliable supply.
A significant portion of this power is generated by the Calabar Power Plant, which has been underutilized despite its capacity of 625 megawatts. The plant, managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), currently operates three turbines, each producing over 125 megawatts, while two are undergoing maintenance. This allows the plant to supply power to the Southeast and South-South regions, contributing to the government’s goal of stabilizing power supply across the nation.
The government is also considering the privatization of the Calabar Power Plant, with the Cross River State Government expressing readiness to take over its management. The Minister emphasized that the power sector is critical to the national economy, and reforms are underway to optimize power generation and distribution to meet the growing energy demands of Nigerians.