The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had said that Nigeria’s drive for industrialisation and economic growth will remain unattainable without reliable and affordable electricity to power the country’s industrial clusters.
Speaking at the Industrial Revolution Work-Group Premier Ministerial Roundtable on Energy, Security and Industrial Infrastructure on Wednesday in Abuja, Adelabu said a vibrant industrial sector depends fundamentally on stable power supply, which government reforms are now working to deliver.
Adelabu explained that recent legislative, policy and infrastructure interventions had begun to stabilise the national grid, improve generation capacity and enhance electricity consumption nationwide.
According to him, the administration is strengthening transmission, distribution and regulatory frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability in the power sector and reduce the frequency of grid disturbances.
He noted that Nigeria’s industrial transformation must be anchored on dependable energy, adding that the Federal Government is committed to providing efficient power solutions for industries through targeted investments and strategic partnerships.
The minister emphasised that industrial clusters would remain central to the government’s approach, describing them as the most practical and cost-effective way to deliver power and critical infrastructure.
He said ongoing engagements with key industrial stakeholders were aimed at identifying priority clusters and fast-tracking energy solutions that meet their unique needs.
Adelabu also acknowledged the importance of complementing the national grid with alternative energy sources such as gas, solar and hybrid systems, especially in locations where grid supply is unreliable. This, he said, would help industries achieve independent and stable electricity.
Earlier, Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, said industrialisation had become an economic imperative for Nigeria, stressing the need to move away from exporting raw materials and instead focus on value addition and processing.
Enoh highlighted energy insecurity and inadequate industrial infrastructure as major challenges, calling for stronger collaboration between the industrial and power sectors to dismantle barriers “cluster by cluster.”
President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Francis Meshioye, expressed confidence that the ongoing discussions would yield practical power solutions for Nigeria’s industrial hubs, including independent power arrangements and dual international grid connections.
Meshioye said manufacturers were optimistic that improved power supply would significantly boost productivity and competitiveness in the months ahead.