Nigeria's Power Minister Unveils N1.2 Trillion Electricity Plan

The Nigerian federal government is taking significant steps to resolve chronic electricity shortages by settling N1.2 trillion in debts related to the power sector and upgrading transmission infrastructure. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed these plans during a briefing on the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The government aims to tackle liquidity challenges affecting gas supply to power generation companies and improve electricity delivery nationwide. To facilitate targeted interventions, the country has been divided into three major energy zones, with Lagos accounting for about 50 percent of national electricity demand.

The government plans to increase transmission capacity from approximately 5,000 megawatts to over 19,000 megawatts, aligning it with the electricity generation capacity of more than 13,000 megawatts. The FEC approved three projects to strengthen the national transmission network, including upgrades to the Katampe transmission substation and the Egbin transmission substation, as well as the reconstruction of a transmission line along the Shagamu axis.