Adewole Adebayo has unveiled a comprehensive plan to address Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis through the development of thousands of decentralised power systems, alongside continued investment in expanding and modernising the national grid.
Adebayo, whose 2027 presidential candidacy on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is being contested by a faction of the party, presented the proposal in his policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity.
Under the plan, states, local governments, communities, cooperatives, farms, schools, hospitals, markets and businesses would be encouraged to establish electricity systems designed around their specific local needs.
The proposed strategy would operate on two tracks: continued investment in the national grid while rapidly expanding mini-grids, embedded generation and stand-alone electricity systems.
Adebayo identified solar, small hydro, wind, biomass, natural gas and hybrid systems as potential energy sources. He proposed developing tens of thousands of decentralised power systems within four years.
According to the blueprint, the initiative would help extend reliable electricity to underserved communities, reduce pressure on the national grid and minimise transmission losses.
The plan also proposes dedicated power solutions for industrial parks, manufacturing clusters, agro-processing centres, technology parks, hospitals and universities through embedded generation, captive power plants and independent power projects.
Another major proposal is the creation of a Bank of Electricity, which would provide long-term, single-digit financing for mini-grids, embedded generation and the local production of electricity equipment, including transformers, meters, cables, solar panels, batteries and inverters.
Adebayo also proposed transforming the National Power Training Institute into a broader electricity and renewable-energy training network to equip engineers, technicians, artisans and other workers with skills required in the evolving power sector.
The blueprint does not propose abandoning the national grid. Instead, it calls for continued investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, alongside improved metering, reduced technical and commercial losses and better grid management.
On electricity billing, Adebayo proposed stronger consumer protection measures, accurate metering and enforceable service standards.
He argued that electricity consumers should not be billed for power that was not supplied.
The proposed electricity reforms form part of Adebayo’s wider economic strategy outlined in Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, which identifies dependable electricity as a key factor in lowering business costs, increasing industrial productivity and supporting job creation.
