The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that no part of the country will be left without reliable electricity once ongoing infrastructure interventions in the power sector are completed.
Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking comprehensive steps to address longstanding challenges affecting electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
Tegbe, who spoke during a thank-you visit to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State at the party’s secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, said significant improvements had been recorded in electricity supply across the country in recent weeks.
He assured Nigerians that the government would continue to implement measures aimed at achieving more stable and reliable power supply nationwide.
On infrastructure projects in Oyo State, the minister disclosed that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would soon have fully installed solar-powered streetlights, while mini solar grids were being constructed at six locations across the state.
He also assured residents of Ogbomoso, Saki, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa that the government was addressing longstanding infrastructural challenges responsible for persistent power shortages in the areas.
Tegbe further said the government was implementing a multi-pronged strategy to tackle structural problems affecting power generation, transmission, distribution and reliability.
As part of the effort, the Federal Government recently inaugurated the construction of a new National Control Centre (NCC) for the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in Osogbo, Osun State.
The new facility is expected to replace the existing 64-year-old control centre, which the minister said was no longer adequate to meet the demands of Nigeria’s expanding electricity grid.
According to Tegbe, the modern NCC will deploy advanced systems to monitor the national grid, improve voltage and frequency regulation, and enable operators to detect and respond to faults more quickly.
He added that the facility would also strengthen the country’s ability to address cybersecurity threats and other forms of interference within the power sector.
The minister also disclosed that the government was working with electricity distribution companies on proposed Energy Zones designed to provide stable, 24-hour electricity to homes, businesses and industries in major high-demand areas, including the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors.
The initiative involves stakeholders including Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Sahara Energy Group.
Tegbe explained that the power challenge goes beyond generation and transmission, stressing that the capacity to receive and distribute available electricity remained a critical part of the problem.
He said the proposed Energy Zones would help close the distribution gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand, and improve the revenue and collection capacity of electricity distribution companies.
The government has also established an Off-Grid Coordination Secretariat to coordinate projects, track commitments, manage risks and prevent duplication across the power sector.
Speaking at the relaunch of the Off-Grid Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Forum organised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Tegbe identified fragmentation among stakeholders as one of the major obstacles to rapid electrification.
He said the new secretariat would facilitate issue-based working groups and provide shared market intelligence to improve coordination among stakeholders.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing policy direction through the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan while supporting the development of state electricity markets under the Electricity Act.
In a related development, Tegbe recently commissioned a 581-kWp interconnected solar mini-grid system with a 1.4-MW battery storage facility in Oke-Oyi Community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, as part of efforts to expand electricity access to rural communities.
Tegbe also pledged to strengthen unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying he had begun discussions with aggrieved former governorship aspirants to foster greater support for the party’s candidates.
The Oyo State APC Chairman, Dr. Moses Alake Adeyemo, commended the minister’s performance and expressed confidence in his ability to advance the administration’s agenda for the power sector.
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