By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
EFFORTS TO stabilise Nigeria’s electricity system have restored 375MW of generation capacity, unlocked 912MW of transmission capacity and mobilised N1.23 trillion towards the power sector’s debt backlog in the first 100 days, the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has said.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that, Tegbe, counting his 100 days in office, disclosed the developments at a media parley in Abuja, where he said the Federal Government had prioritised stabilising the electricity value chain before moving into large scale expansion and investment.
The 375MW Alaoji open cycle power plant, which had been offline for three years, has been restored to the national grid, while interventions in Lagos and Abuja unlocked additional transmission capacity, he said.
The Minister also said new transformers commissioned at Apapa, Ijora, Alausa and Lekki unlocked 672MW, while a 300MVA transformer energised at Katampe added another 240MW.
Generation and transmission exceeded 5,000MW in recent weeks, compared with the 3,700MW to 4,700MW range before June. A generation peak of 5,330MW was also recorded during August and September, he also disclosed.
Tegbe said the Ministry was now focused on translating those system level gains into more dependable electricity for consumers.
He disclosed that an estimated N1.23 trillion had been raised towards settling the backlog of power sector debt, as part of a broader programme addressing the sector’s estimated N3.3 trillion debt.
“Unpaid bills weaken gas supply and maintenance; unreliable supply depresses collections; poor collections deepen debt,” Tegbe said, stressing the need to improve liquidity across the electricity value chain.
Interventions along the Ikorodu Sagamu industrial corridor have also addressed energy theft and revenue losses estimated at ₦120 billion annually, he added.
Metering On The Line
Metering has formed another major part of the Ministry’s first 100 days, with about 350,000 meters installed during the period.
Cumulative installations reached 1,004,260 as of August 2026, Tegbe disclosed.
The resolution of the AMMON litigation has also unlocked procurement of approximately 1.4 million smart meters, while metering of military formations has reached 90,000 installations.
To sustain deployment, 5,000 young Nigerians are undergoing training as smart meter installers under the Power Force programme.
Tegbe said the metering drive would replace disputed estimates with measured consumption while improving billing and revenue accountability.
No Tariffs Increase In View
The Minister also ruled out an increase in electricity tariffs, saying, “Let me categorically state, and this is not a political statement, we have no plan to increase electricity tariffs.”
He reiterated that more than 300 containers of critical power equipment held at the ports have also been released following efforts by the Ministry and relevant government agencies.
Tegbe said the equipment would be inspected, deployed and installed to support transmission infrastructure upgrades.
He said the release would address the situation where unfinished power projects existed while critical equipment remained stranded in storage.
Beyond the immediate stabilisation measures, he reiterated, adding that the Ministry is moving towards a new phase focused on deeper grid stabilisation, development of the Transmission Super Grid, better utilisation of existing generation and distribution assets, and preparation for future electricity demand.
Secured Power Mission Commitments
Tegbe said the recent Nigeria-China power mission secured commitments from Sinomach, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) as well as Chinese financiers to accelerate priority projects against defined completion schedules.
He said the engagements were intended to move beyond financing discussions towards partnerships involving capital, technology and project delivery.
CMEC has reaffirmed its role in the 1.9GW Presidential Power Initiative portfolio, with the first transmission lines scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027, Tegbe said.
CNEEC has also advanced financing arrangements for the US$116 million Zungeru evacuation project, with approval targeted before year end.
TBEA committed to a proposed US$500 million industrial park for power equipment manufacturing, alongside accelerated Presidential Power Initiative work and a three year delivery pathway for the East West Super Grid.
HengFei Cables also committed to supplying cables for Presidential Power Initiative Phase Two and proposed a Nigerian assembly plant and training centre.
Tegbe said the initiatives would link infrastructure development with local production and technical capability.
The Ministry has begun technical audits along the Lagos and Abuja transmission corridors to identify system weaknesses and guide investment towards interventions with verified impact.
He also noted that the Lagos, Enugu Port Harcourt and Abuja Kaduna Kano corridors will remain central to the grid stabilisation programme, while work will also begin on developing the Transmission Super Grid alongside continued corridor stabilisation through the Presidential Power Initiative and related programmes.
Digitalisation is also being pursued as part of the next phase. Tegbe said the Federal Government had signed a cooperation agreement with Huawei Technologies covering grid digitalisation, loss reduction, SCADA gap assessment and technical training.
He said improved digital visibility and system control were necessary to strengthen management and performance across the national electricity network.
Arbitration of Mambila Hydropower Project
The Minister also welcomed Nigeria’s victory in the arbitration of the Mambila Hydropower Project case, saying the Ministry had engaged Energy China on the project and directed the contractor to explore the most practical delivery approach, including a possible phased approach.
He said larger hydropower opportunities, including Mambila, as well as small hydropower projects serving agricultural corridors, formed part of the country’s medium- and long-term electricity strategy.
He said the Ministry has also launched the Renewable Asset Management Company, known as RAMCO, which was established to finance renewable energy assets and infrastructure.
RAMCO is expected to contract competent operators for metering, billing, collection and maintenance, while targeting the mobilisation of ₦3 trillion over the coming years to support long term investment and the viability of public renewable energy assets.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that Tegbe said the Ministry’s first 100 days had focused on laying the foundations for future expansion, stressing that stabilisation remained necessary before expansion.
“Stabilisation is the essential first stage of expansion,” he said.
He added that the Ministry would continue working with development partners including the World Bank, African Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, Sustainable Energy for All and UK PACT on financing, technical assistance, hydropower and electrification.
Over the next six months, Tegbe said the Ministry would seek to turn the repairs, investments and reforms already underway into more visible improvements for electricity consumers.
“Our original commitment to visible, incremental improvements remains the benchmark,” he said.
Tegbe reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to a disciplined approach to solving the sector’s challenges, strategic grid reform, visible improvements in electricity supply and honest communication with Nigerians.
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