FG Approves New Eastern and Western Power Grids to Tackle Grid Collapses

The Federal Government has approved plans to develop new Eastern and Western electricity grids as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s recurring national grid collapses and strengthen the country’s ageing transmission infrastructure. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed the development at an energy conference organised by the HBSAN in Lagos, explaining that the government was preparing to begin the procurement process for the projects. According to the minister, Nigerians could begin to see the benefits of the new infrastructure within two to three years. The initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to address longstanding weaknesses in the electricity transmission network, which have contributed to repeated disruptions in power supply across the country. Nigeria’s electricity sector has struggled with recurring grid disturbances, inadequate transmission capacity and ageing equipment. These challenges have affected households, businesses and industries that depend on a reliable electricity supply. Tegbe said the government was pursuing infrastructure improvements alongside a nationwide technical audit designed to identify specific weaknesses in the transmission system and determine which problems should receive priority attention. Government begins nationwide technical audit The minister disclosed that a technical audit was already underway across the country to assess the condition of electricity infrastructure and establish the causes of operational problems. He said the exercise would help the government avoid spending money on equipment that did not address the actual source of a fault. Tegbe explained that transmission problems could arise from different components, including transformers, conductors, relays, insulators and transmission towers. He stressed that identifying the specific cause of each problem was necessary to ensure that repairs and investments produced meaningful improvements. The minister said the audit was expected to be completed within a few weeks, after which the government would prioritise areas requiring urgent intervention. The approach is intended to provide a clearer picture of the condition of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and help authorities allocate resources according to the severity of the problems identified. Rather than relying solely on emergency repairs after a grid disturbance, the government intends to use the findings to guide targeted interventions across the transmission network. Ageing infrastructure blamed for persistent problems Tegbe attributed part of the electricity sector’s difficulties to the age of some transmission facilities, noting that certain infrastructure had been in operation for decades. He said some transmission towers and lines dated back to the period when the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria operated, before the establishment of the National Electric Power Authority. According to the minister, inspections had revealed infrastructure carrying the markings of the former electricity company, illustrating the age of facilities that remain part of the country's transmission system. He described the challenge as a longstanding infrastructure problem that could not be resolved through operational improvements alone. The minister maintained that expanding and strengthening the grid was necessary to improve the movement of electricity from generation facilities to distribution networks. The condition of transmission infrastructure is particularly important because electricity generation does not automatically translate into reliable supply. Power must also be transported through the transmission network before distribution companies can deliver it to consumers. Weaknesses in this system can restrict the amount of electricity delivered to different parts of the country and contribute to widespread disruptions when major components fail. Lagos and Abuja corridors identified as priorities The minister said the government had divided Nigeria into three energy zones to help identify priority areas for investment and intervention. He highlighted the Lagos and Abuja corridors, explaining that they accounted for a substantial share of electricity demand. Tegbe argued that addressing infrastructure and operational problems along these corridors could significantly improve the performance of the wider electricity system. However, he emphasised that operational efficiency alone would not be sufficient without improvements to the transmission network. The proposed Eastern and Western grids are intended to strengthen the infrastructure supporting electricity transmission and improve the system's ability to handle demand. The government has not yet provided a complete public breakdown of the proposed projects' costs, construction schedules or technical specifications in the announcement reported by PUNCH. Details emerging from the procurement process will be important in determining the scope of the projects and how they will be implemented. Grid collapses continue to affect electricity consumers Nigeria’s recurring electricity grid disturbances have remained a major concern for households, businesses and industrial operators. When the national grid experiences a major system collapse, electricity supply can be disrupted across multiple regions. Restoration may require operators to reconnect generation facilities and rebuild supply gradually. The effects can extend to small businesses relying on electricity for refrigeration, manufacturing, communications and other daily operations. Companies that depend on uninterrupted power frequently turn to generators or alternative energy sources when public electricity supply becomes unreliable, increasing their operating costs. For households, repeated outages can disrupt domestic activities and increase spending on alternative power. The proposed infrastructure programme therefore carries implications beyond the technical performance of the electricity system. Its eventual success could affect business productivity, investment and the cost of operating in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the approval of the new grids does not mean that the underlying problems have already been resolved. Procurement, financing, construction and integration with existing infrastructure must progress before the projects can deliver their intended benefits. New grids form part of wider reform efforts The planned Eastern and Western grids follow other government initiatives aimed at strengthening the national electricity system. In September 2026, the government began construction of a new National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, intended to replace an older facility and improve the monitoring and management of the grid. The control centre project is separate from the newly approved grids but forms part of broader efforts to address weaknesses in the electricity system. While transmission infrastructure provides the physical network for transporting electricity, control facilities help system operators monitor conditions, coordinate operations and respond to disturbances. Improvements in both areas could support more reliable grid management, although their effectiveness will depend on implementation, maintenance and coordination among the institutions responsible for the electricity sector. The government has also acknowledged the need to identify critical transmission bottlenecks and strengthen vulnerable sections of the network. Procurement and implementation will determine results The Federal Government's next steps include advancing the procurement process for the proposed grids and completing the technical audit that will guide priority interventions. The minister's projected two-to-three-year timeframe provides an indication of when Nigerians could begin to experience benefits, but it is not a guarantee that all infrastructure work will be completed within that period. The cost of the projects, their funding arrangements, construction milestones and technical design will be important details to watch as the process advances. For electricity consumers, the key measure of success will be whether the investments reduce the frequency and impact of grid collapses and contribute to a more dependable supply. Nigeria's power sector has faced longstanding infrastructure challenges, and the latest approval represents another attempt to address them through investment and system improvements. The coming months will show how quickly the government moves from approval to procurement and implementation. Until the projects become operational, consumers and businesses will continue to depend on the existing electricity network.