The Federal Government aims to achieve 10,000 megawatts of power through the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project, in collaboration with the World Bank. The project seeks to enhance the use of existing storage facilities for irrigation and hydropower generation, and to improve water resource management in Nigeria.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu shared these plans at the African High-Level Roundtable on Sustainable Hydropower in Abuja, where he explained that the project (SPIN) will unlock additional 10GW capacity from existing dams, incomplete dams, new projects and multipurpose dams that can be modified.
Adelabu highlighted the need for responsible hydropower development, addressing environmental and social impacts. He noted that hydropower has long been a key part of Nigeria’s energy supply, contributing about 20% to the national grid. Nigeria has completed major hydropower projects, such as the 760 MW Kainji, 578 MW Jebba, and 700 MW Zungeru stations.
Nigeria has vast water resources with a hydropower potential of 14 GW, but only 15% has been harnessed. The country has over 340 dams, many underutilized, and significant opportunities for small hydropower projects. The national goal is to provide universal energy access by 2030, with renewable sources contributing 30%.
Adelabu emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, with potential for 45% reduction with external assistance. He praised the African High-Level Roundtable, hosted by the African Development Bank, as a step towards a sustainable energy future for Africa. He noted Africa’s vast natural resources, particularly water systems, as key to achieving clean and reliable energy.
Currently, over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, with Nigeria having a significant share of this population. Sustainable hydropower development is crucial to closing this energy gap and addressing climate change.
