The Federal Government has commenced discussions with electricity distribution companies on the creation of dedicated Energy Zones that could provide round-the-clock electricity to homes, businesses and industries in major demand centres across Nigeria.
The initiative is being considered for key areas including the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and the Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the plan during a closed-door meeting with the management of selected electricity distribution companies and energy stakeholders.
According to the Ministry of Power, the proposed Energy Zones are intended to address challenges at the distribution end of the electricity value chain and ensure that power generated and transmitted to the national grid is delivered more reliably to consumers.
Tegbe said the country’s electricity challenges were not limited to generation and transmission, noting that the capacity of distribution companies to receive available electricity and deliver it to customers remained a major concern.
“The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end,” the minister said.
He explained that the Energy Zones would help bridge the gap between available electricity and actual delivery to consumers, while also unlocking greater demand from commercial and industrial users.
The minister added that the initiative could improve the revenue generation and collection performance of electricity distribution companies by creating areas with more dependable power supply and stronger commercial demand.
The proposed zones are expected to concentrate on locations where reliable electricity is particularly important to manufacturing companies, businesses and other productive activities.
However, the Federal Government has not yet announced a specific date for the commencement of the Energy Zones. Details of the electricity capacity to be supplied, the infrastructure required and the exact locations to be covered are also yet to be made public.
The ministry said the engagement was part of Tegbe’s commitment to adopting a disciplined and phased approach to resolving some of the longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.
Representatives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group attended the meeting.
The proposed Energy Zones come as electricity consumers across the country continue to face concerns over inconsistent power supply and the ability of distribution companies to deliver available electricity to homes and businesses.
The Federal Government’s plan is therefore aimed at improving the distribution network in high-demand areas and ensuring that available electricity is more effectively delivered to consumers, particularly businesses and industries that depend heavily on stable power supply.
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