The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has held a strategic closed-door meeting with the leadership of selected electricity distribution companies (DisCos) as part of efforts by the Federal Government to establish Energy Zones capable of delivering reliable 24-hour electricity supply to Nigerians.
The proposed Energy Zones are targeted at some of the country’s highest electricity-demand corridors, including the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt axis.
At the meeting, Tegbe said the challenges confronting Nigeria’s power sector extend beyond generation and transmission to the capacity of the distribution network to absorb and deliver available electricity to consumers.
He explained that the proposed Energy Zones are intended to bridge the distribution gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand, improve electricity supply and strengthen the revenue and collection capacity of DisCos.
The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding and upgrading power infrastructure in high-demand locations to ensure that electricity supply keeps pace with growing demand driven by economic and industrial activities.
The engagement is part of the minister’s commitment, since assuming office, to adopt a disciplined and phased approach to addressing the structural challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The initiative is also aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which identifies reliable electricity supply as a critical driver of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
Those at the meeting included the leadership of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Sahara Energy Group.
