Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has announced a new phase of infrastructure development and investment mobilisation to build a more resilient and future-ready electricity system. This was disclosed at a programme in Abuja on Tuesday, marking his first 100 days in office. President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Tegbe as Minister of Power in June, following the resignations of the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
During his Senate screening, Mr Tegbe warned that Nigeria's electricity crisis would require tough and transparent reforms, stressing that there were no quick fixes. He identified power distribution, metering, transparency, and sub-national participation as key areas of intervention. Mr Tegbe pledged to prioritise execution over rhetoric, noting that decades of reforms had yet to produce the desired results. He described electricity as a foundation for national confidence.
The Minister's initial focus during his first 100 days had been to stabilise the existing electricity system, restore stranded generation capacity, and strengthen the commercial and governance foundations needed to attract sustainable investment. The next phase of the government's intervention will focus on four priorities: deeper grid stabilisation, development of the Transmission Super Grid, improved utilisation of existing assets, and preparation for future electricity demand.
Mr Tegbe revealed that Nigeria's recent power mission to China secured commitments from Chinese companies and financiers to accelerate priority electricity projects based on defined completion schedules. The engagements were designed to move beyond financing discussions towards partnerships involving capital, technology transfer, and project delivery. CMEC reaffirmed its role in the 1.9GW Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), with the first transmission lines scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027.
CNEEC advanced financing arrangements for the $116 million Zungeru power evacuation project, with approval targeted before the end of the year. TBEA committed to a proposed $500 million industrial park for power-equipment manufacturing, alongside accelerated work on the PPI and a three-year delivery pathway for the East-West Super Grid. HengFei Cables committed to supplying cables for PPI Phase Two and proposed establishing a cable assembly plant and training centre in Nigeria.
The Ministry had commenced technical audits along the Lagos and Abuja transmission corridors to identify system weaknesses and guide investment towards interventions with measurable impact. The Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt, and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridors are central to the government's grid-stabilisation programme. The Ministry will also begin developing the Transmission Super Grid while continuing corridor stabilisation through the PPI and other related programmes.
The Minister highlighted the launch of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO), established to finance renewable-energy assets and infrastructure. RAMCO targets the mobilisation of ₦3 trillion over the coming years to support long-term investment and improve the viability of public renewable-energy assets. The Ministry will continue working with development partners, including the World Bank, African Finance Corporation, and UK PACT, on financing, technical assistance, hydropower, and electrification projects.
Key points
- The Federal Government has signed a cooperation agreement with Huawei Technologies covering grid digitalisation and technical training.
- Nigeria's electricity sector continues to face challenges across generation, transmission, and distribution.
- The Minister's plans focus on deeper grid stabilisation, development of the Transmission Super Grid, and improved utilisation of existing assets.
