Power Minister Joseph Tegbe outlines plans to stabilise Nigeria’s grid, expand transmission infrastructure and address debts to improve electricity supply.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has outlined plans to stabilise the national electricity grid, expand transmission infrastructure and improve the financial sustainability of the power sector as the government seeks to strengthen electricity supply and attract investment.
Tegbe announced the priorities on Tuesday at the opening of the Nigeria Energy Leadership Summit and Exhibition 2026 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. The three-day event, which runs from October 27 to 29, focuses on strengthening power delivery through execution, coordination and performance.
He said the government needed to move beyond developing reforms to implementing measures that produce measurable improvements in electricity supply, system performance and the sustainability of the electricity market.
The minister identified four priority areas: strengthening energy zones, improving the sector’s financial position, making better use of existing assets and expanding infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand.
He also highlighted gas supply constraints, inadequate transmission capacity, distribution losses and accumulated industry debts as major challenges affecting the sector.
To improve electricity delivery, Tegbe identified three economic energy corridors: Lagos–Ogun, Benin–Enugu–Port Harcourt, and Abuja–Kaduna–Kano.
The approach is designed to coordinate electricity generation, transmission and distribution with demand in the selected areas. The government expects better alignment across the electricity value chain to improve power supply and support industrial activities.
Tegbe also stressed the need to maximise the use of existing power infrastructure while developing additional capacity to accommodate future demand.
On distribution efficiency, he pointed to initiatives including the Presidential Metering Initiative, the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and the Meter Acquisition Fund as part of efforts to reduce technical and commercial losses.
The minister said the government was also addressing outstanding financial obligations in the electricity market. According to him, ₦1.23 trillion had been paid from an estimated ₦3.3 trillion in legacy liabilities, while measures were being introduced to prevent financial leakages and the accumulation of further debts.
The government’s strategy, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is intended to improve the electricity market and support wider economic activity through increased industrial productivity, business expansion, investment and job creation.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has undergone reforms aimed at improving competition and attracting private investment. The Electricity Act 2023 established a framework for further restructuring the industry, including a greater role for state governments in electricity regulation and market development.
In March 2026, the Federal Government said power-sector reforms had attracted $2 billion in investment and that 16 state electricity markets had been activated.
However, coordination between federal and state authorities remains important to the implementation of the reforms, with regulatory clarity identified as a key factor in improving the sector’s performance.
The success of Tegbe’s roadmap will depend on how effectively the government addresses infrastructure gaps, financial challenges and coordination across the electricity value chain to deliver more reliable power to households and businesses.