The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a new Eastern-Western electricity transmission grid as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s recurring national grid collapses.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this at a recent HBSAN energy conference in Lagos, where he outlined measures to address persistent weaknesses in the country’s electricity transmission network.
Tegbe said the government was preparing to commence procurement for the proposed projects, expressing optimism that Nigerians would begin to experience their benefits within two to three years.
He also disclosed that a nationwide technical audit had commenced to identify the major challenges facing the power sector and determine which interventions should receive priority attention.
According to the minister, the government has divided the country into three energy zones to help it direct resources towards areas with the greatest electricity demand.
He identified Lagos and the Abuja corridor as critical areas, arguing that improvements in those locations could address a substantial portion of the country’s power supply challenges.
“We have clustered Nigeria into three energy zones. The first one is the one that demands 50 per cent. If you fix Lagos and you fix the Abuja corridors, you’ve solved more than half of the problem of Nigeria,” Tegbe said.
He added that improving operational efficiency alone would not be sufficient, stressing the need to expand and strengthen the national transmission grid.
The proposed Eastern-Western grid forms part of the government’s broader efforts to improve transmission capacity and strengthen the electricity system against recurring failures.
