Nigeria is moving into a new phase of power-sector reform focused on strengthening the national grid, attracting fresh investment and preparing the electricity system for future demand, Minister of Power Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe has said.
Tegbe made the disclosure in Abuja while addressing the media to mark his first 100 days in office.
He said the ministry’s initial efforts had focused on stabilising the existing electricity system, recovering stranded generation capacity and improving the commercial and governance structures needed to attract sustainable investment.
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According to the minister, the next stage of the reform programme will prioritise stronger grid stability, development of a Transmission Super Grid, improved use of existing power assets and preparations for rising electricity demand.
Tegbe said Nigeria’s recent power-sector mission to China had resulted in commitments from major Chinese companies and financial institutions to accelerate several priority projects.
He named Sinomach, CMEC and CNEEC among the companies involved, adding that discussions with Chinese partners were now focused on combining financing, technology and project implementation rather than financing alone.
He said CMEC had reaffirmed its commitment to the 1.9GW Presidential Power Initiative, with the first transmission lines expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027.
For the US$116 million Zungeru power evacuation project, Tegbe said CNEEC had progressed with financing arrangements, with approval expected before the end of the year.
He also disclosed that TBEA had committed to developing a proposed US$500 million industrial park for the local manufacture of power equipment.
The company is also expected to accelerate work under the Presidential Power Initiative and support a three-year delivery programme for the East-West Super Grid.
Meanwhile, HengFei Cables has committed to supplying cables for the second phase of the PPI while proposing a cable assembly plant and training centre in Nigeria.
Tegbe said the partnerships were designed not only to expand infrastructure but also to increase local manufacturing capacity and develop technical skills within the country.
The minister said the ministry had commenced technical audits of key transmission corridors in Lagos and Abuja to identify weaknesses across the network and ensure future investments are directed towards areas with measurable impact.
He identified the Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridors as important components of the ongoing grid stabilisation programme.
Alongside the corridor interventions, the ministry plans to commence development of the Transmission Super Grid, while continuing work under the Presidential Power Initiative and other grid improvement programmes.
Tegbe said the Federal Government had also signed a cooperation agreement with Huawei Technologies to support the digitalisation of the national grid.
The agreement covers areas including loss reduction, assessment of gaps in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and technical training.
He explained that greater digital visibility would enable operators to monitor the electricity network more effectively and improve system control and performance.
On the Mambila Hydropower Project, Tegbe welcomed Nigeria’s victory in the arbitration proceedings relating to the project.
He said the ministry had subsequently engaged Energy China and instructed the contractor to examine the most practical approach to delivering the project, including the possibility of implementing it in phases.
According to him, large-scale hydropower projects such as Mambila, alongside smaller hydro facilities serving agricultural corridors, would form part of Nigeria’s medium- and long-term strategy for expanding electricity generation.
The minister also highlighted the establishment of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO), which is intended to provide financing for renewable-energy assets and infrastructure.
RAMCO is expected to engage qualified operators to manage functions including metering, billing, revenue collection and maintenance.
The company is also targeting the mobilisation of ₦3 trillion over the coming years to support investment in renewable-energy infrastructure and improve the sustainability of publicly owned assets.
Reflecting on his first 100 days, Tegbe said the ministry’s immediate priority had been to establish the conditions required for broader expansion of the electricity sector.
“Stabilisation is the essential first stage of expansion,” he said.
He added that the ministry would continue working with international development partners, including the World Bank, African Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, Sustainable Energy for All and UK PACT.
The partnerships will support areas such as project financing, technical assistance, hydropower development and electricity access.
Tegbe said the ministry’s focus over the next six months would be on translating ongoing repairs, investments and reforms into improvements that consumers can see and experience.
“Our original commitment to visible, incremental improvements remains the benchmark,” he said.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to a structured approach to addressing challenges in the power sector, reforming the national grid, improving electricity supply and maintaining transparent communication with Nigerians.
