The Federal Government has dismissed reports of an impending hike in electricity rates across Nigeria, assuring citizens that there is no immediate plan to increase tariffs. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, made this statement on Monday in Abuja while presenting an account of his first 100 days in office. Tegbe emphasized that the government's immediate priority is to consolidate recent improvements in power generation and transmission.
According to Tegbe, electricity generation and transmission have exceeded 5,000 megawatts (MW) in recent weeks, compared to between 3,700MW and 4,700MW before June 2026. The sector recorded a generation peak of 5,330MW in August and September following interventions aimed at restoring damaged infrastructure and improving the performance of existing power assets. This development is a significant improvement in the power sector.
The Minister acknowledged that the improvement in generation has yet to translate into reliable electricity for many Nigerians. He said the government would focus on sustaining the gains and extending improved supply to more communities. To achieve this, Tegbe disclosed that the 375MW Alaoji open-cycle power plant, which had been offline for three years, was restored to the national grid during the period under review.
Tegbe also highlighted other infrastructure interventions, including new transformers commissioned at Apapa, Ijora, Alausa, and Lekki in Lagos, which unlocked 672MW of transmission capacity. A new 300-megavolt-ampere transformer energized at Katampe, Abuja, unlocked an additional 240MW of transmission capacity. These interventions aim to recover stranded electricity capacity and strengthen power delivery to major centers of demand.
The Minister reported that 62 solar and mini-grid projects have been completed across 30 states, providing about 43.6MW of installed solar capacity and 41,735 new connections. These projects have an estimated beneficiary reach of more than 208,000 people. Additionally, Tegbe mentioned that about 350,000 meters were installed during his first 100 days in office, taking cumulative installations to 1,004,260 as of August 2026.
Tegbe also discussed efforts to address outstanding power-sector debts, revealing that the government has raised an estimated N1.23 trillion towards settling liabilities. He added that the resolution of the AMMON litigation has cleared the way for the procurement of about 1.4 million smart meters under affected programs. Furthermore, the government has blocked revenue leakages linked to energy theft and other losses along the Ikorodu-Sagamu industrial corridor, estimated at about N120 billion annually.
The Minister outlined the next phase of the reform program, which will focus on stabilizing major transmission corridors and advancing plans for a Transmission Super Grid. He disclosed that engagements with Chinese companies have secured commitments to accelerate priority power projects, including the 1.9-gigawatt Presidential Power Initiative. The first transmission lines under the initiative are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027.
Key points
- The Federal Government has no immediate plan to increase electricity tariffs.
- Electricity generation and transmission have exceeded 5,000MW in recent weeks.
- The government has completed 62 solar and mini-grid projects across 30 states, providing 43.6MW of installed solar capacity.
