***Pays N1.23trn of N3.3trn power sector debt
*** Orders clearance of 300 containers of stranded power equipment at ports

The Federal Government has approved the commencement of procurement for the proposed East and West Super Grids as part of efforts to strengthen the national electricity network and raise transmission capacity from about 5,000 megawatts to 19,000MW within two years.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the projects would improve grid resilience and enable the country to evacuate more electricity to consumers.

He said the government had also approved three major interventions to strengthen transmission infrastructure, particularly around Abuja and Lagos, while accelerating efforts to clear more than 300 containers of stranded power equipment at the nation’s ports.

Tegbe said the first approval was for the construction of a 33kV double-circuit underground and overhead line linked to the Katampe Transmission Substation, a major electricity distribution hub serving the North-Central region.

The second approval covers the design, manufacture and supply of three 300MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformers for the Ikeja West Transmission Substation, a critical node supplying the Lagos axis.

The third project involves the reconstruction and upgrade of the 35.6-kilometre Itumola–Mapasin–Shagamu 132kV single-circuit transmission line to a double-circuit line to accommodate increasing electricity demand along the Lagos–Shagamu corridor.

The minister said the interventions formed part of the government’s broader strategy to improve transmission infrastructure, stabilise electricity supply and maximise existing power sector assets.

He disclosed that the ministry had commenced a technical audit of electricity infrastructure nationwide, dividing the country into three major energy zones: Lagos and its surrounding industrial corridor, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano axis, and the Enugu-Onitsha-Benin axis.

According to him, the audit, which had been underway for four weeks, would identify ageing and weak infrastructure requiring replacement or rehabilitation to improve the reliability of the national grid.

On the sector’s liquidity challenges, Tegbe said the government had paid N1.23 trillion out of the N3.3 trillion owed to gas suppliers and other stakeholders, adding that the outstanding liabilities had contributed to difficulties in ensuring adequate gas supply to power generation companies.

He said the government was also working to improve the operational efficiency of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), particularly in coordinating grid management and infrastructure development.

The minister explained that the separation of system operations from transmission infrastructure management was intended to improve efficiency, response time and coordination across the electricity network.

He added that the government was reviewing options for greater private-sector participation in the management of electricity assets to improve performance and ensure better utilisation of existing infrastructure.

On the proposed Super Grids, Tegbe said the projects would cut across the northern and southern parts of the country, strengthening electricity transmission links from Sokoto through Abuja and other locations to parts of the South.

He said President Bola Tinubu had endorsed the commencement of the procurement process, describing the initiative as a significant step towards building a more resilient electricity network capable of supporting future demand.

The minister also announced that the government had commenced the construction of a new National Control Centre in Osogbo to replace the existing facility, which he said was built 64 years ago.

The new centre is expected to strengthen monitoring and management of the national grid.

Tegbe further disclosed that the government was energising completed transmission substations in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe, among other locations, to bring idle infrastructure into service.

He said the government was also expanding access to electricity through solar mini-grids, particularly in institutions and locations facing transmission constraints.

According to him, 14 federal universities had received installed and energised solar mini-grids, with capacities ranging from one megawatt to five megawatts. Another 11 universities were being supported through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), bringing the number of institutions in the programme to nearly 30.

He added that five teaching hospitals were also benefiting from solar power installations being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

On the backlog of power equipment stranded at the ports, the minister described the situation as unacceptable, noting that some of the containers had reportedly remained uncleared for between 14 and 20 years.

He said President Tinubu had directed the ministry to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service to clear more than 300 containers containing electricity equipment.

Tegbe explained that the government would arrange for technical experts to inspect the equipment after clearance to determine which items remained serviceable and could be deployed, while obsolete materials would be dealt with appropriately.

He attributed the prolonged delay to previous administrations’ failure to settle outstanding charges and complete the necessary clearance processes.

According to him, the President had directed the relevant government agencies to work together to resolve the matter, including reconciling outstanding charges where necessary.

On the procurement of the 300MVA transformers for the Lagos transmission network, Tegbe said the equipment would have to be manufactured abroad because Nigeria did not yet have the domestic capacity to produce transformers of that specification.

He noted that some companies had begun assembling transformers locally but said the high-capacity units required specialised manufacturing and could take between three and six months to produce.

The minister warned that global demand for power transformers was increasing, partly because of the electricity requirements of artificial intelligence and data centres, making timely procurement critical to Nigeria’s infrastructure expansion plans.

He said the government would continue to prioritise grid stability, infrastructure rehabilitation, improved liquidity and renewable energy investments as part of efforts to strengthen electricity supply nationwide.