FG PLANS 24-HOUR POWER ZONES IN LAGOS, ABUJA, KANO, OTHERS

The Federal Government has begun discussions with electricity distribution companies (DisCos) on plans to establish dedicated Energy Zones aimed at providing stable, 24-hour electricity to high-demand areas across Nigeria.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this after a strategic meeting with the leadership of selected DisCos as part of efforts to improve electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries.

The proposed Energy Zones will initially focus on the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and the Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor. The government said the initiative is designed to address challenges at the distribution end of the electricity value chain and ensure available power can be effectively delivered to consumers.

Tegbe said the challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector go beyond generation and transmission, stressing the need to improve the capacity of distribution networks to take up and deliver electricity where demand is highest.

According to the minister, strengthening infrastructure in these areas could also unlock additional commercial and industrial demand while improving revenue collection by DisCos. The government intends to expand infrastructure in the targeted locations so that electricity supply can keep pace with growing demand.

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

The Energy Zones plan forms part of the Federal Government’s broader electricity-sector reforms, which include efforts to stabilise key transmission corridors and improve infrastructure across the power value chain.