Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, has revealed that he has been receiving threatening calls due to his progress in the power sector. He shared these details during Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ program, highlighting that his reforms have increased the national grid’s electricity capacity by over 1,000MW within a year.

Adelabu claims that a powerful cartel is working against these advancements, asserting that such acts of sabotage, like blowing up power substations or tearing down power lines, are orchestrated by organized crime rather than ordinary individuals. He noted that resistance and intimidation are common for those in his position, and stressed that the past ministers likely faced similar challenges.

Under his leadership, the electricity generation capacity has risen from 4,000MW to 5,155MW as of August 8, 2024. This progress contrasts with the slow expansion seen over the past decades, where it took more than 25 years to add 2,000MW. Adelabu aims to reach a target of 6,000MW by the end of the year with federal support.

He also addressed the importance of Nigerians paying their energy bills to ensure the sustainability of these improvements. Adelabu argued that, given the high costs of running generators, paying for electricity is a viable and necessary option for continued progress in the sector.