Experts Commend Federal Government’s $2bn Investment In Electricity Transmission

Power sector experts have commended the federal government’s $2 billion investment in a new East-West Super Grid, designed to strengthen electricity transmission and improve power supply across the country.

The experts gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

The minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announced the investment during a television interview on TVC on Monday.

Tegbe said that the project was part of the federal government’s efforts to address long-standing transmission challenges, improve grid stability and meet the country’s growing electricity demand.

According to him, the proposed Super Grid will traverse Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot-Ekpene, Benin, Epe and Ilorin, with an additional transmission capacity of at least 19,000 megawatts.

Reacting, president and project director, Society of Energy Administrators (SEA) of Nigeria, Dr Yekeen Adeboye, described the investment as a welcome development.

He said that initiative would strengthen energy security and support socio-economic development.

Adeboye added that improved electricity transmission would boost productivity and create opportunities for small-scale businesses, particularly among young people.

According to him, this will also help address youth restiveness and insecurity by creating employment opportunities.

Similarly, a former staff of Eko Power Ltd., Ademola Adegoke, described the investment in the transmission segment of the electricity value chain as commendable.

He, however, said sustainable transformation of the power sector required comprehensive investment across the generation, transmission and distribution segments.

Adegoke said that the government should also prioritise metering, expansion of low-tension (LT) and high-tension (HT) distribution networks, as well as an effective regulatory framework to ensure compliance with industry standards.

He said that addressing these critical areas alongside the transmission investment would improve electricity delivery and ensure more stable power supply across the country.