The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to deliver 24-hour electricity supply to Nigeria’s biggest commercial and industrial centres, with the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, engaging electricity distribution companies on the proposed Energy Zones.
The initiative is designed to establish dedicated high-demand power corridors across the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt axis, with the goal of providing more stable electricity to homes, businesses and industries.
Tegbe held a closed-door strategic meeting with the leadership of selected electricity distribution companies and energy sector stakeholders as part of efforts to advance the proposed zones.
The Minister said the challenge confronting Nigeria’s power sector goes beyond electricity generation and transmission, stressing that the sector must also address the capacity of distribution companies to take up and deliver available power to consumers.
According to him, the proposed Energy Zones are intended to close that gap by strengthening distribution infrastructure in areas with high electricity demand.
He said the initiative would also help unlock commercial and industrial demand, improve electricity collections and strengthen the revenue base of distribution companies.
Tegbe further emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding infrastructure in high-demand areas so that electricity supply can keep pace with demand as the economy grows.
The engagement is part of the Minister’s stated approach of tackling the power sector’s challenges through a disciplined and sequenced process, while advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies reliable energy as critical to economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
Representatives of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Sahara Energy Group attended the meeting.
If implemented, the proposed Energy Zones would represent a shift towards concentrating power-sector investments in areas where electricity demand is highest, with the broader objective of improving reliability for consumers and supporting economic activity.