By Adelabu Jumoke
The Federal Government has said Nigeria is on the road to sustainability in the power sector.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, stated this in Abuja during the inauguration of two blocks housing five training workshops and a 104-room hostel at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).
He said the development is a milestone for the institute and the sector, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated genuine commitment by “walking the talk and converting vision into action.”
According to him, the government’s efforts were already yielding results with the country recording the highest power generation and transmission in its history.
“In no time, we are going to witness a country where there is 24/7 uninterrupted power supply. This is possible and we have certainly seen the signs,” he said.
The minister said the government was lighting up universities, teaching hospitals, primary health centres, public institutions and communities, stressing that power supply remained the driver of other critical sectors of the economy, including education, health and aviation.
“We have what it takes to start manufacturing our own meters, cables, transformers, transmission transformers and batteries. We have the brain. We have the people. We must be self-reliant and sustainable, and we are very close to achieving this,” he said.
The minister said the new facilities underscored government’s commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce capable of addressing challenges in a fast-changing energy landscape.
He added that the training centres and hostel would equip young Nigerians with modern tools and knowledge to drive innovation and job creation.
Director-General of NAPTIN, Ahmed Nagode, said the projects represented a foundation for a brighter future in the power sector.
He disclosed that the institute planned to explore partnerships to implement the Next Generation Rescue Programme to train and empower young Nigerian leaders.
Nagode praised the European Union (EU) and the French Government, who, through Agence Française de Développement (AFD), provided funding and technical support for the facilities.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, said the bloc committed €8 million to the project as part of its support for Nigeria’s power sector reforms. He said the EU had helped NAPTIN develop 95 courses, including 65 technical and 30 non-technical ones, and had invested over €200m in Nigeria’s power sector since 2008.
Mignot said the EU’s latest renewable energy package for Nigeria, worth €100m, was designed to add 400 megawatts of renewable energy by 2027, benefitting over five million Nigerians.
