Tegbe: Power Sector Records 5,330MW Peak, 350,000 New Meters, ₦1.23trn Debt Funding in 100 Days

 Tegbe: Power Sector Records 5,330MW Peak, 350,000 New Meters, ₦1.23trn Debt Funding in 100 Days

ABUJA — The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has disclosed that Nigeria recorded a peak electricity generation of 5,330 megawatts (MW), installed about 350,000 new meters and mobilised ₦1.23 trillion towards addressing the power sector’s debt backlog within his first 100 days in office.

Tegbe made the disclosure during a media parley in Abuja, where he outlined interventions by the Ministry of Power across generation, transmission, metering and sector liquidity.

He said the government’s immediate focus had been to stabilise the electricity value chain and improve the performance of existing infrastructure before embarking on broader expansion programmes.

According to the minister, the 375MW Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant was restored to the national grid after being offline for three years, while interventions on the transmission network in Lagos and Abuja unlocked an additional 912MW of transmission capacity.

He explained that newly commissioned transformers at Apapa, Ijora, Alausa and Lekki accounted for 672MW of the additional capacity, while a 300MVA transformer energised at Katampe unlocked another 240MW.

Tegbe said generation and transmission levels had risen above 5,000MW in recent weeks, compared with the 3,700MW to 4,700MW range recorded before June.

He added that the system recorded a generation peak of 5,330MW between August and September.

The minister, however, stressed that the ultimate objective was to translate improvements at the generation and transmission levels into more reliable electricity supply for consumers.

₦1.23trn mobilised to address power-sector debt

Tegbe said the Federal Government had mobilised an estimated ₦1.23 trillion towards settling the backlog of liabilities across the electricity market.

He said the intervention formed part of a broader effort to address the sector’s estimated ₦3.3 trillion debt burden and strengthen liquidity across the electricity value chain.

According to him, the financial challenges facing one segment of the sector could have a cascading effect on other parts of the market.

“Unpaid bills weaken gas supply and maintenance; unreliable supply depresses collections; poor collections deepen debt,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that interventions along the Ikorodu-Sagamu industrial corridor had helped tackle electricity theft and revenue losses estimated at about ₦120 billion annually.

350,000 meters installed in first 100 days

The minister identified metering as a critical component of efforts to improve accountability, reduce billing disputes and restore confidence in the electricity market.

He disclosed that approximately 350,000 meters were installed during the first 100 days of the administration’s current intervention, taking cumulative meter installations to 1,004,260 as of August 2026.

Tegbe said the resolution of the AMMON litigation had also cleared the way for the procurement of approximately 1.4 million smart meters.

He added that metering of military formations had reached about 90,000 installations.

To support future deployment, the Ministry is training 5,000 young Nigerians as smart-meter installers under the Power Force programme.

Tegbe said the initiatives would help shift the electricity market away from estimated billing towards measured consumption while strengthening revenue collection and accountability.

FG has no plan to increase electricity tariffs

The minister also addressed concerns over a possible increase in electricity tariffs, stating that the Federal Government currently had no plan to raise tariffs.

“Let me categorically state—and this is not a political statement—we have no plan to increase electricity tariffs,” Tegbe said.

Over 300 containers of power equipment released

Tegbe further disclosed that more than 300 containers containing critical power-sector equipment had been released from the nation’s ports following intervention by the Ministry and relevant government agencies.

He said the equipment would be inspected and deployed for installation as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transmission infrastructure.

According to him, releasing the equipment would help address a situation where power projects remained incomplete despite critical equipment being available but stranded at the ports.

Government targets Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Abuja-Kano corridors

Looking ahead, Tegbe said the Ministry would intensify grid stabilisation efforts along the Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridors.

He disclosed that technical audits had commenced along the Lagos and Abuja corridors to identify infrastructure weaknesses and provide a basis for targeted investment.

The minister said the government would also continue preparations for the proposed Transmission Super Grid, improve the utilisation of existing generation and distribution assets, and strengthen infrastructure ahead of projected growth in electricity demand.

Tegbe said the achievements recorded during his first 100 days represented the foundation for a longer-term programme of repair, stabilisation and expansion.

“These first 100 days have laid the groundwork for sustained repair and stabilisation,” he said, adding that the Ministry would continue to track and report progress using measurable indicators such as electricity supply reliability, billing accuracy, fault resolution and complaints management.