Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the Lagos and Abuja airports spend over N1 billion each month on power supply. This staggering cost is due to the country’s struggling power sector, which is plagued by underinvestment and liquidity shortages ¹.
Keyamo emphasized that the increasing electricity costs have added to the financial burden on both flight operations and the airline industry. To address this, he’s advocating for off-grid energy solutions, particularly renewable sources like solar power. This move would help reduce the financial strain on airports and the industry as a whole.
Key Concerns:
- High Electricity Costs: The airports’ power bills are excessively high, with Lagos and Abuja spending over N1 billion monthly.
- Financial Burden: The costs are affecting flight operations and the airline industry.
- Need for Alternative Energy: Keyamo is pushing for off-grid solutions, like solar power, to reduce dependence on expensive diesel generators.
Government Initiatives:
- N130 Billion Payment Initiative: The federal government has introduced a payment plan to address the N1.3 trillion debt owed to gas suppliers within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
- Debt Settlement: Around N205 billion has been disbursed to gas suppliers to boost electricity production nationwide.
By exploring alternative energy sources and addressing the underlying issues in the power sector, Nigeria can work towards reducing costs and improving efficiency in its airports ¹.
