The Federal Government has approved plans to develop new eastern and western electricity transmission grids to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure and reduce the frequency of nationwide grid collapses.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed this at a recent energy conference organised by HBSAN in Lagos, stating that preparations for the projects were underway, with procurement expected to precede construction.
According to the minister, Nigerians could begin to experience improvements from the projects within two to three years.
Tegbe explained that the government had divided the country into three energy zones to identify critical areas requiring urgent attention, noting that improvements along the Lagos and Abuja corridors would address a significant portion of the country’s electricity challenges.
He said President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of the process to expand the transmission network, adding that the planned grids would complement other interventions aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply.
The government is also conducting a nationwide technical audit of electricity infrastructure to establish the condition of existing facilities and determine the most urgent repair and replacement needs.
Tegbe said the assessment would help officials identify the specific causes of infrastructure failures before allocating funds to remedial work.
He noted that problems affecting the transmission network could stem from different components, including transformers, conductors, relays, insulators and transmission towers, stressing that addressing the wrong equipment would waste resources without resolving the underlying issues.
The minister said the audit was expected to be completed within weeks, after which the government would prioritise interventions based on the findings.
He also acknowledged that the electricity sector’s challenges were partly rooted in ageing infrastructure, with some transmission facilities dating back approximately five decades.
Tegbe recalled seeing transmission towers and lines bearing the markings of the former Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), which existed before the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
He said the condition of some of these facilities highlighted the scale of the infrastructure problems inherited by the current administration.
Nigeria has repeatedly experienced national grid disturbances that disrupt electricity supply to homes and businesses, underscoring concerns about the capacity and reliability of its transmission network.
The proposed grid expansion, alongside the technical audit and targeted rehabilitation of existing facilities, forms part of the government’s efforts to address longstanding weaknesses in the electricity transmission system.
