By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’s ELECTRICITY expansion drive is gathering momentum, with the Federal Government (FG) pursuing plans to raise generation capacity towards 20,000 megawatts, invest $2 billion in a new transmission super grid and restore critical infrastructure following recent supply disruptions affecting Lagos and neighbouring states.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the FG described the three-pronged intervention as measures that reflects the administration’s efforts to address persistent electricity challenges through new generation projects, transmission upgrades, improved power plant performance and increased private sector participation.
Outlining the government’s plans during a television interview, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, expressed confidence that Nigerians would experience more stable electricity within the next three to five years.
He said the administration was moving beyond the longstanding ambition of achieving 10,000 megawatts, with several projects in development that could push national generation capacity towards 20,000 megawatts.
Tegbe disclosed that the government was engaging private investors and development partners to accelerate the projects, adding that Aliko Dangote had expressed commitment to supporting the country’s 20,000MW ambition.
A significant component of the generation expansion strategy is the Mambila Hydropower Project, which has the potential to produce approximately 3,000 megawatts, Tegbe revealed.
He also said President Bola Tinubu had directed him to engage northern states to secure their participation and stake in the project.
Tegbe also revealed that Chinese companies had expressed interest in supporting its development, with potential financing from China Exim Bank in collaboration with Sinohydro.
Beyond Mambila, the government is advancing plans to harness smaller hydropower resources across the country. Tegbe said a policy on small hydropower was nearing completion, while 21 dams along the proposed Sokoto to Badagry Superhighway had been identified for possible development.
President Tinubu had approved the development of the identified dams, with discussions already underway with prospective investors.
The Minister also pointed to the Electricity Act 2023 as a major instrument for expanding electricity investment, explaining that its decentralised framework allows state governments and private investors to develop solutions suited to local requirements.
These options include mini-grids, gas-fired power plants and independent electricity markets that can complement the national grid.
He said emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and the growing number of Nigerians working remotely would further increase the country’s electricity requirements, making expanded generation and stronger transmission and distribution networks essential.
Tegbe maintained that stabilising the existing grid and maximising available generation remained immediate priorities, even as the government pursued longer-term infrastructure projects.
“Give me a time horizon of three to five years, and Nigeria will enjoy stable electricity,” he said.
FG Expands Electricity Generation Plans
Alongside generation expansion, the Federal Government has approved a $2 billion investment in a new East to West Super Grid, designed to strengthen electricity transmission and improve the movement of power across the country.
The proposed infrastructure will traverse Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot-Ekpene, Benin, Epe and Ilorin, providing additional transmission capacity of at least 19,000 megawatts.
Tegbe said the project had received presidential approval, with procurement processes already underway. The government expects delivery within 18 months to two years.
He clarified that the new transmission network would complement the existing national grid rather than replace it, providing additional capacity and improving the resilience of electricity supply across different regions.
The investment forms part of a wider grid modernisation programme following a technical audit initiated shortly after Tegbe assumed office.
The exercise identified deficiencies involving transmission towers, insulators, conductors and relays across several electricity corridors.
He said the findings would guide the replacement and rehabilitation of critical equipment, ensuring that government funding addresses actual infrastructure failures. Work on the identified equipment is expected to begin within the coming months following presidential approval of funding.
FG Prioritises Osogbo to Ikeja West Transmission
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that another priority is the restoration of the Oshogbo to Ikeja West transmission line, which could deliver an additional 400 megawatts into the Lagos electricity complex when operational.
The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had paid N1.23 trillion out of approximately ₦3.3 trillion owed to electricity generation companies, leaving an outstanding balance of about ₦2 trillion.
He explained that the accumulated debts had affected GenCos’ ability to meet financial obligations to gas suppliers, limiting their capacity to generate electricity despite Nigeria’s substantial gas resources.
The administration is targeting settlement of the outstanding balance in 2027, a move Tegbe said would improve the financial position of generation companies and support gas procurement and increased output.
He also identified underutilised power plants in the Niger Delta as another opportunity to increase electricity supply without relying solely on new generation projects.
Facilities operated by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company have a combined installed capacity exceeding 3,000 megawatts but currently contribute approximately 400 megawatts.
The government intends to improve their performance by addressing the challenges affecting gas supply, generation and transmission.
Private sector participation also features prominently in the administration’s electricity reform agenda. Tegbe said the government expects greater private investment in transmission within the next two to three years, complementing ongoing public infrastructure spending.
He added that the Electricity Act 2023 allows generators to supply electricity directly to willing off-takers through bilateral arrangements or feed power into the national grid under regulated agreements.
Lagos, Ogun, Abia and Enugu are among the states exploring different approaches to developing independent electricity markets.
While the government pursues these long-term investments, it has also moved to address recent electricity supply disruptions affecting Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and parts of Kwara State.
Tegbe clarified that the incident did not constitute a national grid collapse but resulted from the simultaneous loss of two critical electricity infrastructure assets: the Benin to Egbin 330kV transmission line and Egbin Power Station’s planned maintenance operations.
The vandalised transmission line normally conveys between 300 and 400 megawatts into the Lagos electricity complex. Its loss, combined with the temporary shutdown of Egbin for scheduled maintenance, resulted in an estimated supply reduction of almost 800 megawatts, forcing load shedding across the affected areas.
The Minister said the Ministry of Power immediately activated measures to restore the affected infrastructure, meeting his earlier commitment to resolve the disruption within 48 to 72 hours.
“As of yesterday, the Benin–Egbin line was restored. As of last night and this morning, the Lagos complex is receiving about 1,000 megawatts,” he said.
He further disclosed that Egbin’s ST1 turbine had returned to operation, while ST3 was expected to resume generation that evening, adding approximately 150 megawatts to the Lagos electricity complex.
However, another critical transmission corridor remains under restoration. The Oshogbo to Ikeja West line has been out of service for approximately 18 months following the vandalism of about six transmission towers.
The line would ordinarily deliver an additional 400 megawatts to Lagos, but restoration work has faced difficulties because of the swampy terrain and challenging access conditions.
Tegbe said the government had prioritised the repairs and was targeting completion by the end of November 2026.
He explained that four major transmission lines serve the Lagos electricity complex, but only three were operational at the time of the interview. Restoring the fourth would increase available transmission capacity and reduce the corridor’s vulnerability to disruptions.
The Minister also identified infrastructure vandalism as a serious threat to the country’s electricity improvement efforts, warning that attacks on transmission towers and other critical assets undermine investments across the sector.
To strengthen protection, the government has established a joint task force involving the Ministry of Power, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Independent System Operator, Office of the National Security Adviser, Homeland Security and other security agencies.
The task force is mapping vulnerable locations and considering the deployment of drones and other surveillance technologies to monitor transmission corridors and strengthen security responses.
The government is also engaging the National Assembly to strengthen the legal framework for prosecuting those responsible for destroying electricity infrastructure.
Tegbe appealed to Nigerians to support efforts to protect national electricity assets, noting that the destruction of a single transmission tower could disrupt power supply to thousands of households and businesses.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving electricity reliability through infrastructure rehabilitation, stronger coordination among sector agencies, generation expansion and sustained investment across the electricity value chain.
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