FG Eyes 8,000MW as Power Sector Reform Deepens

The Federal Government has announced plans to increase electricity generation and transmission to 8,000 megawatts by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to improve power supply nationwide.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday at the launch of the Renewable Energy Assets Management Company, RAMCO, in Abuja.

Tegbe said the government was targeting 6,500MW by the end of 2026 before increasing wheeled electricity to 8,000MW by the end of 2027.

“We are struggling to wheel 5,000MW today. My target is that by the end of this year, we’ll confidently be wheeling 6,500MW. By the end of next year, we will be wheeling conveniently 8,000MW,” he said.

The minister expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon begin to enjoy more reliable electricity, including the possibility of round-the-clock power supply.

He said Nigeria had remained in an “embarrassing paradox” of possessing significant energy resources and installed power infrastructure while struggling to provide dependable electricity.

Tegbe described recent improvements in the sector as only the beginning of the administration’s broader reform programme.

He said RAMCO would introduce a new approach to managing and sustaining renewable energy infrastructure, adding that its mandate could eventually extend to the entire electricity grid.

According to him, the new model would focus on professional management, discipline, sustainability and measurable performance.

The minister also outlined plans for a more versatile electricity system combining grid supply, embedded generation, distributed renewable energy, storage and other technologies suited to specific communities and economic clusters.

He said mini-grids would be deployed in areas without transmission infrastructure to expand access to electricity.

“Wherever we don’t have transmission lines, we will fill it up with mini-grids going forward,” Tegbe stated.

He stressed that the government’s ambition extended beyond simply increasing electricity generation, saying reliable power was essential to economic growth and industrial development.

Tegbe said improved electricity supply would help make Nigeria more competitive in manufacturing and support emerging industries, particularly artificial intelligence and data centres.

He noted that AI-related activities require substantial energy and that companies were increasingly seeking locations close to reliable power sources.

The minister said RAMCO’s performance would therefore be measured not only by the number of megawatts delivered but also by the reliability and sustainability of supply.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting initiatives that had enabled the government to provide renewable energy to universities and teaching hospitals.

Aliyu said RAMCO was established to ensure that these renewable energy assets remain operational and sustainable.

Tegbe also commended Aliyu for his role in driving the initiative, describing the RAMCO model as an important step towards improving the long-term management of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.