FG to establish 24-hour-power-supply zones in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt others

FG to establish 24-hour-power-supply zones in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt others

The Federal Government has commenced discussions with electricity distribution companies on plans to establish special Energy Zones that could provide stable, 24 hour electricity to homes, businesses and industries in major demand centres across Nigeria.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, met behind closed doors with executives of selected electricity distribution companies to discuss the proposal, which will cover the Lagos axis, Abuja, Kaduna,Kano and Enugu,Port Harcourt corridors.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s media aide, Adeola Adelabu, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that electricity generated and transmitted to the national grid gets to consumers more reliably, particularly in areas with significant commercial and industrial activity.

The statement quoted Tegbe as saying, “The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end.” He explained that the proposed Energy Zones would help address distribution challenges, unlock more commercial and industrial demand, and improve the revenue and collection performance of electricity distribution companies.

The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s plan to expand electricity infrastructure in high-demand areas, stressing that supply capacity must increase alongside the needs of Nigeria’s growing economy.

However, the government has not disclosed when the Energy Zones will become operational, how much electricity they will generate or the specific infrastructure investments required to achieve round-the-clock supply.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group.

The proposal comes amid persistent concerns over unreliable electricity supply and challenges in delivering available power to consumers.