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Africa records hydropower growth but Nigeria still suffers power shortages — Report
Africa added more than 4,200 megawatts (MW) of new hydropower capacity in 2025, making it a fast growing region for hydropower development globally, according to a new report released by the International Hydropower Association (IHA).
The report, 2026 World Hydropower Outlook, said the continent commissioned 4,297 MW of new hydropower capacity during the year, the second consecutive year that additions exceeded 4,000 MW.
The growth was driven largely by the completion of mega projects in Ethiopia and Tanzania, even as more than 90 per cent of Africa’s hydropower potential remains untapped.
The findings come as Nigeria continues to grapple with chronic power shortages, frequent grid collapses and one of the world’s largest electricity access deficits despite possessing significant hydropower resources.
Malcolm Turnbull, president of the International Hydropower Association, said countries are increasingly turning to hydropower and energy storage solutions as they seek reliable electricity supplies amid growing dependence on renewable energy and rising geopolitical uncertainties.
“As electricity systems become more dependent on variable renewables, and geopolitical tensions make reliance on imports more challenging, countries are increasingly recognising the importance of flexibility, long-duration storage and resilient domestic generation. Hydropower and pumped storage are uniquely positioned to provide these services at scale,” he said.
Ethiopia, Tanzania lead Africa’s growth
According to the report, Ethiopia fully inaugurated the 5,000 MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2025, making it the largest power station in Africa.
Tanzania also completed the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, a development the report said has substantially reduced the country’s dependence on diesel-powered electricity generation.
The report noted that Africa’s hydropower expansion places the continent at the forefront of global growth in conventional hydropower development.
However, it warned that progress remains far below potential.
“Despite progress, only around 10% of Africa’s hydropower potential has been realised, representing one of the most significant development opportunities in the world, with direct implications for electrification, industrial growth and energy security across a continent growing at twice the global average,” the report stated.
Most projects, it said, remain stalled by financing difficulties, regulatory bottlenecks and delays in securing approvals.
The report also identified weak transmission infrastructure and fragmented electricity networks as major barriers preventing power generated from reaching consumers efficiently.
Nigeria’s modest progress
Nigeria received only a brief mention in the report, which highlighted the rehabilitation of the Kainji Hydroelectric Power Station.
According to the report, the upgrade added 80 MW to the facility, increasing its installed capacity to 600 MW.
The modest increase contrasts sharply with the scale of new investments seen elsewhere on the continent.
Hydropower remains a critical component of Nigeria’s electricity supply. The Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro hydroelectric plants together account for a significant share of power delivered to the national grid.
Yet electricity supply remains inadequate for Africa’s most populous nation.
Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) show that while Nigeria’s installed generation capacity exceeds 14,000 MW, actual available generation is significantly lower because of gas constraints, transmission limitations, ageing infrastructure and operational challenges.
The country has also experienced multiple national grid collapses in recent years, highlighting long-standing weaknesses in the electricity value chain.
Energy access challenge
The report arrives at a time when Nigeria is seeking to expand electricity access and reduce dependence on self-generated power.
According to the World Bank, about 86 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, giving the country the largest electricity access deficit in the world.
Businesses and households spend billions of naira annually on diesel and petrol generators to compensate for unreliable grid supply, a situation that raises production costs and constrains economic growth.
Although the 700 MW Zungeru Hydropower Plant has begun contributing electricity to the grid, several proposed hydropower projects across the country have faced delays linked to funding, environmental concerns and implementation challenges.
The IHA report suggests that while Africa is witnessing a resurgence in hydropower development, countries such as Nigeria will require significant investments in generation, transmission and energy storage infrastructure to fully benefit from the continent’s vast renewable energy potential.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that the smoke observed at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Sunday was not caused by a fire but by the discharge of the terminal’s fire suppression system.
The clarification came hours after the authority initially announced that a fire incident had occurred at the terminal, prompting an emergency response and raising concerns among passengers and airport users.
In its first statement, FAAN said a fire had broken out at Terminal 2 and disclosed that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the situation.
“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation,” the authority said, adding that no casualties or loss of life had been recorded.
The announcement triggered emergency response measures at the airport before FAAN issued a fresh update later in the day, clarifying the nature of the incident.
According to the authority, preliminary investigations showed there was no fire at the terminal.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN said.
The authority added that normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations continue to determine what triggered the fire suppression system.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” it added.
Any report of fire or smoke at an airport automatically triggers emergency response procedures due to the potential risks to passengers, aircraft, and critical airport infrastructure.
FAAN also thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of airport operations.
Comes five months after a major fire incident at the airport
Although a fire did not cause Sunday’s incident, it came barely five months after a major blaze at the airport’s international terminal disrupted flight operations and damaged critical aviation infrastructure.
In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a fire at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport forced the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield, causing flight delays and diversions as emergency responders battled the blaze.
The incident left six people injured, while 14 people trapped inside the control tower were rescued. It also damaged critical infrastructure, including weather equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Following the February incident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced plans to demolish the ageing Terminal 1 after describing the damage as extensive. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria also ordered a comprehensive structural audit of the affected facility ahead of reconstruction.
READ ALSO: FAAN unveils 2025 bye-laws
While Sunday’s incident was quickly resolved without injuries or significant disruption to flight operations, it has renewed attention on the resilience of critical infrastructure and emergency preparedness at Nigeria’s busiest aviation gateway, coming just five months after the February fire.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is Nigeria’s busiest aviation gateway, handling millions of domestic and international passengers annually.
FAAN said investigations are continuing to determine why the FM-200 fire suppression system was activated and promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
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