FG approves hydropower plant to boost power supply in Oyo

The Federal Government has approved two major energy projects in Oyo State aimed at fortifying the national grid and addressing persistent power challenges in the state.

The decisions, ratified during Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, include reviving and concessioning the decades-old Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant and constructing a high-capacity new substation in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

The new substation to be located in Lalupon/Ejioku axis of Lagelu Local Government Area will boost power supply to Iwo road, Monatan, Olodo, and the adjoining areas in Ibadan.

Originally launched in 1979 under the military regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and operationalised in 1980 during ex-President Shehu Shagari’s tenure, the Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant will now undergo a significant upgrade.

The Minister of Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bolaji Tunji, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, said the facility’s capacity will expand from 6MW to 20MW under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) concession.

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Adelabu said the revitalised plant will prioritise energy access for Oyo’s Oke Ogun communities, with an upwardly revised concession fee ensuring long-term viability.

The minister added that the federal government also approved the construction of a 60MVA, 132/33KV substation in Lalupon/Ejioku in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, to alleviate pressure on the grid and improve energy supply.

The substation, part of the Siemens-backed Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), is to be funded directly by the Federal Ministry of Power and aims to resolve frequent outages and grid instability plaguing the state capital.

Adelabu noted that the infrastructure will serve as a backbone for strategic investments, enhance service delivery, and align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable energy.

The project, according to him, includes upgrades to the 60-year-old 330KV Ayede substation and the construction of a new Asejire 330KV substation, further stabilising the grid for over 5 million residents.

“These interventions will directly uplift livelihoods, attract industries, and position Oyo State as a model for Nigeria’s energy transition,” the minister added.

The Star