The Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, says decentralized power generation, renewable energy and local manufacturing will form the core of his strategy to transform Nigeria’s electricity sector.
Adebayo disclosed this while featuring on the Personality Interview Series of the News Agency of Nigeria, where he outlined plans to expand electricity generation, diversify the country’s energy mix and strengthen infrastructure to support industrialization.
He said his administration would combine solar, gas and hydroelectric power while rehabilitating existing hydroelectric stations, with the goal of increasing electricity generation to 75,000 megawatts.
Adebayo said Nigeria had moved beyond the stage where generation targets of 10,000MW or 20,000MW could meet its electricity needs, stressing the need for long-term planning to support large-scale industrialization.
“For now, any presidential candidate who is not giving you a plan for 50,000 megawatts is behind the times. Nigeria has passed the age where we need 10,000 megawatts or 20,000 megawatts,” he said.
The SDP candidate said his administration would deliberately diversify the country’s energy mix rather than rely on a single source of generation.
He identified gas as one of Nigeria’s major advantages and said it should be deployed alongside renewable energy sources to increase electricity supply.
Adebayo also proposed greater use of solar power through a decentralized electricity system that could serve communities and economic clusters.
He said power generation should not be concentrated entirely within the existing national grid, arguing that cluster-based generation could complement the grid and improve access to electricity.
According to him, mini-grids and embedded generation could bring power closer to consumers while supporting economic activities in areas poorly served by the national grid. “A lot of it will be green, like solar; a lot of it will be gas, because we have a bonus of gas,” he said.
Adebayo said the proposed strategy would also include the rehabilitation of existing hydroelectric facilities to restore generation capacity from infrastructure already in place. He said Nigeria needed to maximize its existing energy assets while investing in additional generation capacity.
The presidential candidate identified local manufacturing as another key component of his energy strategy, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
He said producing solar equipment and other energy components locally would reduce dependence on imports and create jobs.
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Adebayo also said electricity policy should be directly linked to Nigeria’s industrialization strategy, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture and small businesses.
He argued that reliable electricity would reduce production costs by helping businesses cut their reliance on alternative sources of power.
According to him, an administration led by him would treat electricity as an economic development issue rather than merely a utility challenge.
He said the proposed expansion in generation would be accompanied by reforms aimed at making the electricity market more efficient and responsive to consumers.
Adebayo also criticized aspects of the existing electricity market, saying structural reforms were necessary alongside increased generation.
He warned that expanding generation without addressing challenges in transmission, distribution and market efficiency would limit the impact of additional power supply.
The SDP presidential candidate said his administration would adopt a coordinated approach covering generation, transmission, distribution and energy procurement.
He said the ultimate objective would be to ensure that increased generation translated into reliable and affordable electricity for households and businesses.
Adebayo said Nigeria possessed the resources needed to build a much larger electricity system but required deliberate planning to harness them effectively.
“We have a bonus of gas,” he said, reiterating the need to combine the country’s natural resources with renewable energy and improved infrastructure.
He said the strategy would form part of a broader economic programme aimed at increasing productivity, creating jobs and improving living standards.
Adebayo said Nigeria could not achieve sustained economic growth without addressing its electricity deficit and providing businesses with dependable power.
He said his administration would therefore pursue a diversified and decentralized energy system capable of meeting the country’s future economic needs.
NAN
