24/7 Power: Tegbe meets DisCos, targets Lagos, Abuja-Kano, Enugu-PH energy zones

"The Minister’s engagement with the DisCos is part of what the ministry described as a disciplined and sequenced approach to addressing the challenges in the power sector, following his commitment upon assumption of office to tackle the sector’s constraints in a structured manner."

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 dedicated Energy Zones capable of delivering stable 24-hour electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries in high-demand areas.

The proposed Energy Zones will initially focus on three major economic corridors — the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt axis — in a move aimed at improving electricity supply, stimulating industrial activity and strengthening the financial viability of distribution companies.

At the meeting, Tegbe said the challenges confronting Nigeria’s electricity sector went beyond power generation and transmission, stressing that the ability of the distribution end to take up and effectively deliver available electricity remained a critical constraint.

According to him, “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 said the proposed Energy Zones were designed to address the gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand, and improve the revenue and collection capacity of DisCos.

Tegbe also expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding infrastructure in high-demand areas to ensure that electricity supply keeps pace with estimated demand in a rapidly growing economy.

The Minister’s engagement with the DisCos is part of what the ministry described as a disciplined and sequenced approach to addressing the challenges in the power sector, following his commitment upon assumption of office to tackle the sector’s constraints in a structured manner.

The initiative is also aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places reliable electricity supply at the centre of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.

The meeting brought together the leadership of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Sahara Energy Group.

The proposed Energy Zones are expected to provide a framework for concentrating investment and distribution infrastructure around areas with significant electricity demand, particularly commercial and industrial centres where improved supply could support increased economic activity.

The engagement further underscores the Federal Government’s emphasis on addressing the power value chain as an interconnected system, with generation, transmission and distribution capacity needing to expand in tandem to deliver reliable electricity to consumers.