FG TO DEPLOY 21 DAMS FOR POWER GENERATION

The Federal Government is developing a policy to convert 21 idle dams discovered along the Sokoto-Badagry corridor into commercially viable small-scale hydroelectric power projects.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the Renewable Energy Asset Management Company, saying President Bola Tinubu had directed the government to put the facilities to productive use.

Tegbe questioned why the dams had remained unused for years despite Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges, stressing that existing infrastructure should be deployed to support economic development.

He said the proposed small-scale hydro projects would form part of the government’s broader strategy to optimise public assets and expand electricity generation.

The minister also disclosed plans to connect stranded and idle power assets to areas with significant electricity demand, including Lagos, Kano and Borno.

According to him, the government has identified three major energy corridors: the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.

Technical audits are also being conducted along the corridors to identify damaged infrastructure, including broken insulators, faulty conductors, relays and damaged transmission towers.

Tegbe said the government would not sell its power assets but would put them into productive use and leverage them to attract funding for further development.

He said the government was targeting an increase in electricity wheeling capacity from about 5,000MW currently to 6,500MW by the end of 2026 and 8,000MW by the end of 2027.

The minister said the broader objective was to improve electricity reliability, support manufacturing and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

He added that the government’s renewable asset management strategy was designed to ensure that existing infrastructure contributes more effectively to economic growth and national development.