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ABUJA, Nigeria - The Federal Government has announced its intention to learn about power generation and transmission from Egypt, which it regards as a model in this field.
The government has also reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing rural development through improved access to electricity.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this announcement during a recent meeting in Abuja with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad.
According to a statement from Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, the meeting focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation in energy expansion, particularly in renewable energy and rural electrification.
Adelabu praised Egypt for its accomplishments in the energy sector, calling the country a role model for energy infrastructure advancement.
He expressed Nigeria’s eagerness to learn from Egypt's experience in energy generation, transmission, and distribution, noting that Egypt's success prompted discussions with Siemens aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s power sector.
“Egypt has made significant progress in energy transformation, and we are keen to collaborate and learn from your expertise. Our objective is to provide reliable, stable, and affordable energy access for all Nigerians,” he stated.
The government is seeking Egypt’s expertise to enhance the power sector, while the power minister has established a committee for a national power conference. Nigeria’s power generation has reached 5,713.60MW, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Adelabu highlighted Nigeria’s initiatives to connect remote rural regions to electricity through renewable energy efforts, acknowledging the economic difficulties in extending the national grid to these areas.
“Many rural locations cannot be linked to the grid due to financial limitations, but we must not overlook them. Our renewable energy programme aims to bridge this gap. We have attracted significant investments, including $750 million from the World Bank’s DARES project and another $190 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support this endeavor,” Adelabu remarked.
He underscored Nigeria’s rich renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro potential, reiterating the government’s commitment to leveraging these resources for sustainable energy access.
Meanwhile, Fouad conveyed Egypt’s eagerness to work with Nigeria, especially in addressing the metering gap and exchanging best practices in energy access.
He stressed the benefits and shared objectives of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. “Nigeria and Egypt share many similarities, and there is significant potential for cooperation within the energy sector. We are dedicated to collaborating to achieve sustainable energy solutions for both nations,” Fouad stated.
