The federal government has paid N1.2 trillion out of the N2.3 trillion owed to operators in Nigeria’s electricity sector, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has said.
Tegbe disclosed this while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the payment was part of efforts to ease liquidity constraints in the electricity sector, particularly those affecting gas supplies to power generation companies.
The minister added that the government was working to stabilise the national grid, expand transmission capacity and improve electricity delivery to consumers.
According to him, the ministry has commenced a nationwide technical audit of power infrastructure to identify ageing facilities and those requiring urgent upgrades.
He said the country had been divided into three energy zones to guide interventions, noting that Lagos and its environs accounted for about 50 per cent of national electricity demand, while the other zones covered Abuja, Kano and other areas requiring improved transmission and supply.
Tegbe said the government planned to increase transmission capacity from about 5,000 megawatts to more than 19,000 megawatts to match Nigeria’s generation capacity, which he put at over 13,000 megawatts.
He disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had approved three projects to strengthen the national transmission network.
The projects include the upgrade of the Katampe transmission substation, which serves the North-Central region; the design and manufacture of three 300-megavolt-ampere transformers for the Egbin transmission substation, serving the Lagos axis; and the reconstruction of a 35.6-kilometre transmission line on the Shagamu axis from a single-circuit to a double-circuit line.
The minister said the projects were expected to improve the capacity, stability and resilience of the national grid.
On alternative power sources, Tegbe said 14 federal universities had been equipped with solar mini-grids with capacities ranging from one to five megawatts, while 11 other institutions had received funding through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
He said the initiative covered nearly 30 institutions, adding that the University of Abuja’s solar mini-grid was inaugurated about three weeks ago, with similar projects planned for other universities.
The government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, had also completed and energised solar mini-grids in five teaching hospitals, according to the minister.
He said the projects were designed to provide reliable electricity to critical public institutions and reduce their dependence on the national grid.
Tegbe further disclosed that the government had begun clearing more than 300 containers of power equipment stranded at the ports.
He said Tinubu had directed the ministry to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service to facilitate their clearance and deployment for electricity projects.
The minister also announced that construction had begun on a new national control centre in Osogbo, Osun State, to replace the existing facility, which he said was built 64 years ago.
He said the new centre would feature modern technology to improve grid monitoring and management.
Tegbe added that the government would continue to settle outstanding debts, upgrade transmission infrastructure and expand alternative energy projects as part of efforts to improve electricity supply.
