FG Approves New Eastern, Western Electricity Grids to Curb Frequent Collapses

The Federal Government has approved plans to develop new eastern and western electricity grids as part of efforts to address the frequent collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid and improve electricity supply across the country.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this at an energy conference in Lagos, where he said the government was preparing to begin the procurement process for the projects.

According to the minister, Nigerians could begin to experience the benefits of the proposed grid expansion within the next two to three years.

He explained that the initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and ensure a more reliable power supply.

He noted that addressing electricity challenges in Lagos and along the Abuja corridors would resolve a significant portion of the country’s power transmission problems because of the importance of these areas to electricity demand and distribution.

The minister stressed that improving operations alone would not be enough without expanding and upgrading the national transmission network.

He said President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of the process to develop the eastern and western grids, adding that the government was currently working towards the procurement stage.

Tegbe also revealed that a nationwide technical audit of the electricity transmission infrastructure was underway to identify specific problems affecting the system.

According to him, the exercise would help the government determine whether particular locations require repairs to transformers, conductors, relays, insulators or transmission towers.

He explained that the government intended to complete the audit within a few weeks before moving ahead with interventions in areas identified as priorities.

The minister said the assessment was necessary to prevent resources from being wasted on repairs that do not address the actual causes of electricity transmission failures.

Tegbe further acknowledged that Nigeria’s electricity sector was facing longstanding infrastructure challenges inherited over several decades.

He said some of the transmission towers and power lines currently in use were constructed many years ago and had deteriorated over time.

The minister recalled visiting some transmission facilities and discovering equipment bearing the logo of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), an organisation that existed before the establishment of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

According to him, the discovery highlighted the age of some of the country’s electricity infrastructure and the scale of investment required to modernise the sector.

He maintained that the government’s approach would focus on identifying the specific challenges affecting the transmission network and directing interventions towards the areas where they were most urgently needed.

The planned eastern and western grids, alongside the technical audit and targeted infrastructure repairs, are expected to form part of the government’s efforts to reduce grid disturbances and improve electricity transmission.

However, the projects are still at the preparatory stage, with the procurement process expected to precede implementation. The minister said the anticipated benefits would become more noticeable within two to three years.

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