FG approves $2B East-West Super Grid adding 19,000MW transmission capacity
The Federal Government has approved a $2 billion East-West Super Grid project to add 19,000 megawatts of transmission capacity across Nigeria. Minister of Power Olasunkanmi Tegbe announced the 18-24 month project on Monday, with the grid spanning Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot-Ekpene, Benin, Epe, and Ilorin. The infrastructure will complement—not replace—the existing national grid, targeting transmission bottlenecks identified in a recent technical audit covering towers, insulators, conductors, and relays.
A priority restoration of the Oshogbo–Ikeja West line alone could deliver 400 megawatts to Lagos. Beyond transmission, Tegbe disclosed the government has paid ₦1.23 trillion of the ₦3.3 trillion owed to generation companies (GenCos), leaving a ₦2 trillion balance targeted for settlement by 2027. Niger Delta Power Holding Company plants with 3,000+ megawatts installed capacity currently contribute only ~400 megawatts—fixing gas supply and transmission constraints there could significantly boost supply.
The Electricity Act 2023 now allows states and private investors to generate, transmit, and distribute power. Lagos, Ogun, Abia, and Enugu are already exploring independent markets and mini-grids. PwC warns success hinges on clearer regulatory coordination between federal and state authorities.
With states now empowered to build their own electricity markets, will your state government prioritize energy independence or wait for federal grid improvements?