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Epileptic electricity: FG to inject 1,900MW solar power into grid
The Federal Government has revealed plans to construct modular solar power plants with a combined capacity of 1,900 megawatts for the 19 northern states, as part of efforts to boost renewable energy adoption and expand the national grid.
It also disclosed its target to generate and distribute about 8,000MW of electricity before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in office in 2027.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced this during the sixth edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series held on Thursday in Abuja.
Adelabu said each solar-powered station will produce approximately 100MW of electricity, enabling states to become more energy-independent and reducing reliance on the national grid.
He also stated that the government is pursuing private investment to help expand the grid and improve generation.
Recall that the northern region recently faced challenges with a stable power supply due to a surge in vandalism and theft of critical transmission infrastructure.
Last October, vandals destroyed the important 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna power line that supplies the states of Kano and Kaduna, and another line that supplies Bauchi, Gombe, and other parts of the northeast.
This incident led to a month-long blackout in 17 out of 19 northern states in the country.
Following the repairs, the governors of the 19 northern states called for the diversification of energy to ensure improved electricity supply.
The states include Niger and Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe and Katsina. Others are Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi and Benue.
But speaking at the event to update the public and highlight achievements recorded so far, the minister emphasized that with Nigeria’s abundant sunshine, there is no reason the country cannot achieve utility-scale solar power generation.
He said, “In addition to these initiatives, private investors like Sun Africa Energy and Skipper Electric are keen to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, emphasising renewable generation and grid expansion.
What we have today on our grid are just two types of power, hydropower and gas-powered plants.
“But with the abundance of sunshine that we have in Nigeria, nothing stops us from having utility-scale solar power generation. And we have two companies that have expressed interest in this.
We have evaluated, and discussions are at a very, very high stage.
“Number one is Sun Africa, which intends to bring in about 1,000MW of solar energy to complement the efforts of Niger Delta Power Holding Company at their various locations. And this will go straight into the grid. That’s adding solar power to our grid.
“Then the second is Skipper Energy, who has also decided to construct modular solar power plants in the 19 states of the northern part of Nigeria, about 100MW each, so that each state will be independent and the independence of the national grid will be reduced.
This will ensure that we have solar power in our national grid.
”Continuing, Adelabu described the 8,000MW target as realistic, noting that power generation has already improved by about 40 per cent since the current administration took office.
He said average daily generation rose from 4,100MW in Q3 2023 to 5,700MW in the last quarter of 2025, peaking at 5,800MW.
He highlighted that while it took Nigeria nearly 40 years, from 1984 to 2022, to grow from 2,000MW to 4,000MW, the current administration added 1,700MW in just over a year.
“I assumed office in August 2023, and within a short time, we’ve moved from an unstable 4,100MW to a steady 5,800MW,” he said, adding that if past governments had added just 1,000MW each year since 1999, Nigeria would now be producing over 30,000MW.
Adelabu credited the recent progress to President Tinubu’s support and expressed confidence that, if current momentum continues, the country could reach 8,000MW by 2027.
“Now that we have created a trajectory, if we sustain this trajectory, I can assure you that before the end of this administration in 2027, we should be able to generate and distribute nothing less than 8,000MW of power,” he assured.
The minister further observed the paucity of funds, stressing that given the competition for funding among various ministries and agencies, the government is looking to the private sector to secure financing for the construction of new transmission lines, substations, and the installation of additional transformers.
“We have received various offers from private investors. The national grid is owned 100 per cent by the government. But I can tell you, with other ministries competing for funds, we cannot fund the national grid alone.
We are looking to expand the national grid. If you look at the grid, I will give you the features of the grid. It is too large, and there are some dedicated lines in which some private investors have expressed interest.
“And with the Nigerian Independent System Operator, it will be much easier for us to invite the private sector investors and let them finance the construction of new lines, construction of new substations, and introduction of new transformers,” the former CBN director noted.
As part of its achievements, the minister said the national grid has been stronger in Tinubu’s administration, as the Transmission Company of Nigeria strengthened the critical network by commissioning 61 new transformers.
“It is a huge grid to cover over 200 million people, and it’s been there for so long, and we know that the maintenance history has been poor, replacement history has been poor, expansion history has been poor,” the minister said.
He added, “It is old, so collectively enabling our grid 8.7 gigawatt operational capacity, as of today, if we grow our generation to 8,700 megawatts, the grid can still carry it, thanks to the activities of the TCN and the FGN power company.
Two years ago, once it gets to 5,000MW, the grid collapses, then we have evacuated 5,800MW successfully without the grid blinking, it was still stable, so we can transport 8,700MW.
“To strengthen this critical network, TCN commissioned 61 new transformers, totalling 5,589 MVA in 2024.
Followed by nine additional transformers in quarter one of 2025 across key locations in Lagos, Benin, Bauchi, Oshogbo, Kano, and Kaduna, we have the list of the sites. I once mentioned that TCN had over 100 unfinished projects.
.….Moves to Strengthen Integrity in Sports..
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC), reaffirming its commitment to promoting fairness, integrity and excellence in sports.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, described the inauguration as a major milestone in Nigeria’s sporting development and a significant step towards ensuring compliance with global anti-doping standards.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, delivering the inaugural speech during the inauguration ceremony of the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC) on Thursday, 2nd July 2026 in Abuja.
Akume said that the inauguration follows the enactment of the National Anti-Doping Act 2025, which established the NADC as a statutory body with the legal authority to implement Nigeria’s anti-doping obligations in line with international regulations.
He noted that the Centre represents the government’s response to past doping challenges that have affected Nigeria’s reputation in global sports competitions.
The SGF charged members of the newly inaugurated Technical Board to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, independence and accountability, and emphasized that the Board’s mandate includes athlete education, prevention of doping violations, protection of clean athletes and enforcement of anti-doping regulations across all levels of sports development.
(L-R) The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. H. M. Omidiran; the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON; Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Sen. Abdul Ningi and the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, during the inauguration ceremony of the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC) on Thursday, 2nd July, 2026 in Abuja.
Meanwhile ,Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports Development, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, pledged continued legislative support for the anti-doping programme, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing sports development through increased funding, describing sports as a strategic tool for national growth and international recognition.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, described the inauguration as another milestone in the ongoing transformation of the sports sector.
He urged the Board to promote integrity and accountability while expanding anti-doping awareness to schools, youth competitions, sports academies and federations nationwide.
(6th left) Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, in a group photograph with the members of the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC) during the inaugural ceremony on Thursday, 2nd July, 2026 in Abuja.
In a landmark move towards modernisation and efficiency, Nigeria’s Supreme Court has unveiled a new comprehensive digital system designed to eliminate manual processes across its operations.
The initiative, announced on Thursday, aims to transform the apex court’s judicial administration by digitising filing, case tracking, judgments, and record-keeping, which have long relied on paper-based systems.
According to a statement from the Supreme Court, the digital platform will enable electronic filing of cases, real-time case status updates, virtual access to court records, and automated workflows to reduce delays and human error.
“This digital transformation marks a new era in the administration of justice in Nigeria,” a senior court official said. “It will significantly cut down on the bottlenecks associated with manual documentation, enhance transparency, and improve access to justice for all citizens.”
The new system is expected to address longstanding challenges including lost files, prolonged adjournments caused by missing documents, and inefficiencies in the appellate process. It aligns with broader e-governance efforts across federal institutions and is projected to save time and resources while minimising physical contact in line with global best practices.
Implementation is set to begin in phases, starting with appellate filings and extending to full operations within the next few months. Training programmes for judges, lawyers, and court staff have already commenced to ensure a smooth transition.
Legal practitioners and stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as long overdue. “This will revolutionise how we interact with the judiciary,” said a senior advocate. “No more waiting for physical files or chasing paper trails.”
The Supreme Court assured that the platform will incorporate robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive judicial data.
This reform is seen as a significant step in strengthening the rule of law and modernising Nigeria’s justice delivery system.
In a major cultural and modernisation shift for Nigeria’s youth service programme, the traditional khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to be replaced with outfits made from Adire fabric, a iconic indigenous tie-and-dye textile.
The announcement forms part of sweeping reforms approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition the NYSC for a changing economy and to promote national pride through local culture.
According to details of the reform package, the current standard white T-shirt and khaki trousers will give way to Adire-designed uniforms that retain the NYSC logo. The changes also include replacing heavy boots with Crocs and lighter training shoes, alongside a shift from the traditional Passing Out Parade (POP) to a new graduation ceremony.
The move is expected to boost local textile industries, particularly Adire production, which is deeply rooted in Yoruba cultural heritage and primarily produced in southwestern Nigeria. Adire, known for its vibrant patterns created through resist-dyeing techniques, has long been celebrated as a symbol of Nigerian creativity and identity.
The reforms stem from recommendations aimed at enhancing professionalism, improving camp conditions, and aligning the NYSC with contemporary realities more than 50 years after its establishment. Legal amendments to the NYSC Act are expected to follow to fully implement the changes.
This development has sparked mixed reactions online, with some hailing it as a welcome embrace of indigenous culture and others viewing it as a symbolic departure from the scheme’s original military-style discipline.
Further details on the timeline for rollout and design specifications are anticipated from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in the coming weeks.
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