• Nigeria recorded progress on the 350-megawatt Abuja gas-fired power plant after a site inspection by the grid operator.

• State oil company NNPC Ltd leads the project as the first phase of the Abuja Independent Power Project.

• The plant supports Nigeria’s plan to raise grid-connected power capacity to 8,500 MW by end-2026.

According to Nigerian media reports published on January 30, the 350-megawatt gas power plant under development in Abuja recorded progress. The Nigerian Independent System Operator conducted a site inspection and reached this assessment. The public agency manages Nigeria’s national electricity grid.

Abdul Mohammed Bello, managing director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, praised the development efforts at the site. He said the project showed “steady progress,” although he did not disclose execution rates or completion figures.

The system operator said the inspection allowed teams to review construction progress and discuss technical aspects related to future plant operations. The assessment formed part of ongoing monitoring of power generation facilities scheduled for connection to the national grid.

Project Led by State Oil Company

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited develops the Abuja gas power plant project. The company is building the facility in Gwagwalada, within the Federal Capital Territory. The project represents the first phase of the Abuja Independent Power Project.

The authorities laid the project’s foundation stone in August 2023, which marked the official start of construction. The government has not announced a commissioning date.

In September 2024, NNPC Ltd announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Beijing with China Engineering & Machinery Corporation. The agreement covers the co-financing of the first phase of the Abuja Independent Power Project.

NNPC Ltd said the memorandum sets a framework for cooperation on project financing. The company said the agreement does not constitute a final construction contract. The authorities have not announced a final investment decision.

Project Aligned With Nigeria’s Energy Targets

Officials from the Nigerian Independent System Operator said during the visit that the Abuja gas power plant supports the federal government’s objective to raise grid-connected electricity generation capacity to 8,500 megawatts by the end of 2026.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission show Nigeria recorded about 14,000 megawatts of installed generation capacity in 2025. However, available and effective capacity on the grid ranged between 5,000 and 5,600 megawatts.

The authorities also link the Abuja project to ongoing gas infrastructure development, particularly the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline. NNPC Ltd also leads the pipeline project, which aims to transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central and northern regions to supply power plants and industries. In late December 2025, Agence Ecofin reported the completion of welding on the pipeline’s main line.

These projects align with Nigeria’s gas infrastructure master plan, which aims to expand gas transportation capacity to support electricity generation.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM