FG Okays Eastern, Western Power Grids To Curb Electricity Disruptions

The Federal Government has approved plans to establish new eastern and western electricity grids to address Nigeria’s persistent power transmission challenges and reduce frequent national grid collapses.

ADVERTISE HERE:
[email protected]

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the approval at an energy conference in Lagos, explaining that the projects would strengthen electricity transmission and improve power supply reliability across the country.

According to Tegbe, the government is preparing to begin the procurement process for the projects. 

He added that Nigerians could start experiencing improvements within the next two to three years.

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to address longstanding weaknesses in the nation's electricity infrastructure and improve the delivery of power to homes and businesses.

Tegbe explained that President Bola Tinubu had approved the development of the two additional grids, which would complement ongoing efforts to improve the performance of the existing transmission network.

He also revealed that the government had divided the country into three energy zones to identify critical infrastructure gaps and direct resources towards areas with the greatest need.

The minister identified Lagos and the Abuja corridors as priority areas, noting that improvements in these locations could significantly reduce the country's electricity challenges because of their substantial energy demand.

However, he stressed that operational improvements alone would not resolve the problem without expanding and modernising the transmission network.

FG begins nationwide electricity infrastructure audit

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power has commenced a technical audit of electricity infrastructure across Nigeria to determine the specific causes of transmission failures and identify projects requiring urgent intervention.

Tegbe said the exercise would help the government avoid spending money on repairs that do not address the actual problems affecting electricity infrastructure.

He explained that engineers were examining different components of the transmission network, including transformers, conductors, relays, insulators and transmission towers.

The minister said the findings would guide the government's priorities after the audit, which he expected to conclude within a few weeks.

According to him, the exercise is intended to ensure that interventions target the actual sources of failure rather than relying on general repairs that may not produce lasting results.

Minister Highlights Ageing Transmission Infrastructure

Tegbe also attributed some of Nigeria's electricity transmission problems to infrastructure that has remained in service for decades without adequate replacement or modernisation.

He said his assessment of transmission facilities had revealed the scale of the challenge inherited by the current administration.

The minister disclosed that some transmission towers and power lines dated back to the era of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), which existed before the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

He noted that the age of some facilities highlighted the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country's transmission infrastructure rather than isolated repairs.

The planned eastern and western grids, alongside the nationwide technical audit, are expected to guide efforts to strengthen the network and reduce disruptions.

Nevertheless, the success of the initiative will depend on the timely completion of procurement, adequate funding and the effective implementation of the proposed infrastructure upgrades.