The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has claimed that in less than a year his reforms in the power sector have added more than 1,000MW of electricity to the capacity of the national grid.
Adelabu lamented that he receives threat calls from unknown persons who are against the progress in the power sector.
The minister disclosed this on Saturday during Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ programme.
He insisted that a cartel is against the progress in the sector, adding that it is impossible for ordinary people to blow up a power transmission substation with dynamites, and pull down a power line.
Adelabu said “There will be resistance, people stand in your way, saboteurs and others. Let me say this for the first time. I receive threat calls.
“I am the 49th power minister in the country. The past ministers were probably bullied and intimated in their work. It does not take ordinary people to blow up a power transmission substation with dynamites, and pull down a power line.
“It is an organised crime. It is a cabal and cartel. We are all Nigerians but we are all Nigerians, we will not run away from ourselves.”
Speaking further on the significant development attained in his one year in office, he said Nigeria had struggled with electricity generation of 4,000 megawatts (MW).
“We have raised the electricity generated capacity from 4,000MW to 5,155MW recorded on the 8th of August, 2024. In the past, it took the country over 25 years to achieve 2,000MW of power and it took between 1984 and today to achieve additional 2,000MW.
“When we resumed as minister, the electricity generated was 4,000MW and within a year, we have added over 1,000MW. Our target is to hit 6,000MW with the support of the Federal Government before the end of this year,” he said.
The minister added that energy consumers must be ready to pay their bills for continuity and sustainability of the many achievements in the power sector.
Adelabu emphasised that, in contrast to the overall cost of running generators, Nigerians can afford to pay their energy bills regardless of cost.