By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled a four-pronged power sector roadmap aimed at tackling Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges and providing the reliable and affordable energy required to achieve its $1 trillion economy ambition.
The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Thursday at the Sixth Annual Conference of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN), held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
The conference was themed: “$1 Trillion Economy: Nigeria’s Roadmap to Reliable and Affordable Power Supply.”
Represented by his Special Adviser on Administration and Projects, Martins Olajide, the minister identified grid stabilisation, sector liquidity and sustainability, asset optimisation, and grid expansion and enhancement as the four strategic pillars of the roadmap.
He explained that the government was adopting a corridor-based approach to prioritise electricity delivery to major economic centres across the country, including Lagos-Ogun, Benin-Enugu-Port Harcourt, and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano.
According to him, Lagos-Ogun and Abuja have been selected as pilot locations for the proposed 24-hour electricity supply zones.
Providing an update on ongoing reforms, Tegbe disclosed that more than 15,000MVA of additional transmission capacity had been added to the national grid between 2023 and October 2026.
He also revealed that over 2.8 million electricity customers had been metered under the Presidential Metering Initiative.
On the financial challenges confronting the sector, the minister highlighted the Federal Government’s ₦3.3 trillion plan to settle verified legacy debts owed to electricity generation companies, disclosing that ₦1.23 trillion had so far been raised under the initiative.
In his keynote address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FGN Power Company Limited, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, said the Presidential Power Initiative was targeting an additional 5,540MW of electricity capacity by 2029, alongside significant improvements in national grid reliability.
Anuwe explained that the initiative was designed to coordinate technical partners, relevant government agencies and private investors under a unified implementation framework.
He added that the company was exploring innovative financing models to attract greater private sector participation in the development and expansion of electricity infrastructure.
Giving details of ongoing projects, he disclosed that the initiative included the construction of transmission substations and 16 transmission lines covering approximately 606 kilometres.
He said the projects were expected to support the return of at least 2,000 industries to the national grid, thereby improving industrial productivity and strengthening economic growth.
Earlier, the Chairman of PCAN, Mr. Obas Esiedesa, emphasised that reliable and affordable electricity remained critical to achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economic ambition.
He called for urgent measures to address seasonal declines in electricity generation, particularly between November and March, when reduced water inflows and gas supply constraints affect hydroelectric and thermal power generation.
Esiedesa also identified inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure, liquidity challenges, investment deficits and regulatory uncertainties as major obstacles requiring sustained government attention.
The conference featured a panel discussion moderated by Kingsley Jeremiah, Energy Editor of The Guardian, with contributions from Engr. Mojeed Akintola, General Manager, Engineering, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); Bashiru Bello Adoke, General Manager, Gas Commercial, NDPHC; and Uket Obonga, Executive Secretary, Power and Consumers Advocates of Nigeria (PECAN).
The panel examined practical strategies for strengthening electricity infrastructure, attracting sustainable investments and addressing structural challenges affecting the power sector.
Participants stressed the importance of coordinated interventions, improved financing mechanisms and effective implementation of ongoing reforms to guarantee reliable and affordable electricity supply across the country.
The conference brought together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s electricity industry to examine the reforms and investments required to position the power sector as a major driver of the country’s economic transformation.