A renewed push to address Nigeria’s regional power supply imbalance, the Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to ramp up electricity generation and distribution in the northern region. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced the strategy during a two-day Senate Committee on Power retreat, where he outlined infrastructure-driven efforts aimed at revitalising power access in underserved areas.
At the heart of this plan are three critical projects: the 1,000MW Makurdi Hydropower Plant, the long-abandoned 215MW Kaduna Thermal Plant, and the 10MW Katsina Wind Farm. According to Adelabu, these projects form part of the government’s strategic roadmap to enhance energy equity, industrial growth, and socio-economic development across the North.
“We are looking at developing the Makurdi Hydropower project with a potential generation capacity of 1,000 megawatts,” Adelabu stated. “Additionally, the Kaduna thermal plant, which has been stalled at 87% completion for over five years, is undergoing reactivation efforts to bring it onstream.”
The Makurdi Hydropower initiative, if executed effectively, could emerge as one of Nigeria’s most significant renewable energy installations, helping to bridge the nation’s power generation shortfall and reduce regional disparities in electricity access. Similarly, the Kaduna Thermal Plant’s revival is expected to boost energy resilience and stimulate industrial growth within Kaduna and neighbouring states.
In Katsina, efforts are also underway to revive the state’s dormant wind farm. Adelabu noted that the Katsina State Government, in collaboration with private investors, has commissioned a feasibility study for the concessioning of the 10MW wind energy facility.
“The Katsina Wind Farm has potential, but it has been underutilised. With state-level interest and private capital, we believe the concession model will breathe new life into the project,” he explained.
Bridging the Metering Gap
Beyond power generation, the Minister addressed persistent challenges in energy distribution, particularly the widespread metering deficit. He disclosed that no fewer than 200,000 prepaid meters would be delivered to the Federal Government in May 2025 for deployment across the country, as part of an aggressive effort to close Nigeria’s 7 million-meter gap.
> “In April 2024, we deployed 75,000 meters. By May, we expect another 200,000 units,” Adelabu said. “The metering gap contributes significantly to revenue losses and billing disputes. That’s why the Federal Government has launched a N700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative, alongside a World Bank-backed programme aimed at installing 4.3 million meters by year-end.”
He emphasised that accurate metering is central to restoring consumer trust, improving utility finances, and achieving cost-reflective tariffs, which are prerequisites for private sector investment.
Highlighting systemic infrastructure challenges, Adelabu acknowledged that power transmission in the North lags behind other regions, especially Lagos, where higher remittances from electricity distribution companies (Discos) reflect superior network capabilities. To address this, the ministry plans to regionalise the grid and attract private investment into power infrastructure projects.
“We are working to regionalise the transmission network to reduce system-wide failure risks and encourage private-sector participation,” the minister stated. “This approach will ensure more decentralised, resilient, and investor-friendly energy systems.”
Stakeholders across the power sector have welcomed the government’s northern power initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Experts say the integration of hydropower, wind energy, and thermal sources into Nigeria’s energy mix could significantly reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, improve energy access, and support climate resilience.
As Nigeria seeks to transition from an energy-deficient economy to an electrified, industrially vibrant nation, the Federal Government’s renewed focus on northern Nigeria could help turn the tide—provided political will, private investment, and sustained implementation efforts align.