Quick Summary:
Power Minister prepares to resign ahead of 2027 elections, leaving office without achieving 6,000MW electricity supply goal.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is set to exit President Bola Tinubu’s administration after failing to meet his 6,000-megawatt electricity supply target.
The development follows President Tinubu’s directive that all ministers, aides, and political appointees seeking elective positions in the 2027 general elections must resign by March 31, 2026, in compliance with the recently signed Electoral Act.
Adelabu, who has declared his intention to contest the Oyo State governorship election, now has less than two weeks to step down.
Ministry Confirms Exit Plans
A reliable source within the Ministry of Power confirmed that Adelabu would resign before the deadline, stating that his focus has shifted to his 2027 governorship ambition.
The source added that several contenders are already jostling for Adelabu’s position, warning that whoever succeeds him will face serious challenges in the troubled power sector.
Power Sector in Crisis
Adelabu’s exit comes amid persistent blackouts and erratic electricity supply across Nigeria. As of Tuesday, power allocated to distribution companies (Discos) from the national grid stood at 3,331 megawatts, far below the minister’s 6,000MW target.
The Nigerian Integrated System Operator and electricity distribution companies have blamed the shortfall on gas shortages, which have limited generation to between 2,000MW and 3,900MW.
On Tuesday, several gas plants were shut down by power generation companies over legacy debts exceeding ₦6.8 trillion, further worsening supply.
Missed Targets and Unmet Promises
Adelabu had previously set a 2025 deadline to achieve 6,000MW of stable electricity supply, a goal that was missed due to infrastructure deficits, funding gaps, and gas supply constraints.
His impending resignation underscores the continuing struggles of Nigeria’s power sector, which remains plagued by inefficiency, debt, and unreliable generation capacity.
