Tunde Bakare
Industries and commercial enterprises within the Idu industrial zone of Abuja are would now enjoy uninterrupted electricity in the nearest future following the ground-breaking ceremony for a 50-megawatt electrification project.
The initiative is a collaborative venture between Welbeck Electricity Distribution Limited, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), and Shell Gas Limited, designed to provide reliable power to local factories and businesses.
The project is slated for phased execution, with phase one set to deliver 10MW by December 2026, while the remaining 40MW will be rolled out through 2027.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announced that the Federal Government is conducting comprehensive technical audits across major industrial corridors nationwide, prioritizing the Lagos industrial axis, the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, and the Enugu-Onitsha axis.
Tegbe noted that the Lagos industrial corridor accounts for approximately 40 percent of national electricity demand, adding that government interventions in the zone aim to create or secure around 180,000 jobs over the next six months.
“Our target is that within six months we will fix the issues in the Lagos/Sagamu corridor regarding infrastructure and then move on to Abuja and then the Enugu-Onitsha axis,” Tegbe declared.
The Power minister’s engagement follows the commissioning on Wednesday of a 3MW hybrid mini-grid project designed to provide 24-hour electricity to over 58,000 students and residents at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly the University of Abuja).
He pledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the actualization of the project.
Tegbe said, “We need to ensure the transmission happens. And then even distribution. I am sure Abuja Disco is represented here, Because if you want to effectively distribute to the industrial end users, there must be a handshake.”
He also outlined the benefits the Electricity Act 2023, especially in the decentralization of the sector to the sub-nationals and the private sector to also generate, transmit and distribute energy.
He said empowering the sub nationals and private sector is a strategic measure to deepen holistic participation in the industry in order to effectively provide electricity to Nigerians.
The Minister revealed that this generation plant will provide a major boost to industrialization and prosperity in the Abuja-Kaduna axis of the country.
He also described vandalization of power infrastructure as the major drawback in the industry and encouraged the communities to protect the assets to ensure sustainability.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, emphasized that the government’s broader industrial strategy centers on promoting local production, value addition, economic diversification, and the integration of Nigerian industries into global markets.
“When you produce locally, you contribute to job creation and provide our abundant youth with a pathway for employment,” Enoh remarked.