Sahara Power Group (SPG) has announced plans to significantly expand Nigeria’s power generation capacity and establish the country’s first National Data Park and AI Compute Infrastructure, signaling a transformative agenda for 2026.
The initiatives, revealed by Group Managing Director Kola Adesina, are part of the company’s strategy to modernise the nation’s power sector through technological innovation, infrastructure investment, and stakeholder collaboration.
Speaking on the “State of the Power Sector and Opportunities Ahead,” Adesina highlighted the sector’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic growth. He noted that legacy debt resolution, policy reforms, and technological upgrades, including data-driven operations, are positioning Nigeria to become a leading power hub in Africa.
While SPG does not currently operate a data centre, the company plans to build one at its Egbin Power Plant site in Lagos. The Data Centre will leverage real-time analytics, predictive maintenance, and advanced cybersecurity to enhance operational efficiency and transparency.
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Federal Government and system operators to support the sector’s digital transformation.
Adesina emphasised ongoing collaboration across the sector, noting that the Federal Government, Power Ministry, regulators, banks, and multilateral agencies are working together to stabilise operations and spur growth.
“We are witnessing unprecedented collaboration involving the Federal Government, Power Ministry, Regulatory Agencies, Power Entities, CBN, Banks, and multilateral financial and development agencies. We believe this trend will continue in 2026, driving efficiency, sustainability, and increased power supply for Nigerians,” he said.
Brandspur note that the executive highlighted Sahara Power’s achievements in debt servicing, metering, and service delivery. According to Adesina, the company has paid N438 billion of its $600 million loan obligations despite sector-wide liquidity challenges.
He added that the Federal Government’s legacy debt settlement has facilitated the ongoing repayment of obligations to gas suppliers, technical service providers, and banks, creating room for fresh investment.
Sahara Power Group, responsible for roughly 20 per cent of Nigeria’s total power output, operates key subsidiaries including Egbin Power Plc, First Independent Power Limited, and Ikeja Electric, Africa’s largest privately managed distribution company.
The company plans to raise its dispatched generation capacity to between 6,500MW and 7,000MW over the next three to five years, with investments spanning both gas and renewable energy sources.
The group also intends to implement sector-wide reforms, such as the deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), modern Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, and upgraded distribution networks.
These efforts are aimed at reducing technical and commercial losses, improving service reliability, and enhancing overall value chain efficiency.
Adesina described the initiatives as part of a long-term infrastructure strategy aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies, which prioritise investment confidence and sector stability. He said that predictable policies, reduced inflation, and moderated interest rates are enabling SPG and other investors to plan with greater certainty and scale.
These investments and reforms could transform Nigeria’s power sector, improving reliability, attracting private capital, and fostering innovation through data-driven infrastructure and AI-powered systems.
