FG Targets 6,500MW Power Supply by December, 8,000MW in 2027

The Federal Government has set a target of increasing power supply to 6,500 megawatts (MW) by December 2026 and 8,000MW by the end of 2027.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this in Abuja while unveiling the Renewable and Asset Management Company (RAMCO), a new institution created to manage and preserve the country’s power assets.

Nigeria currently has about 5,000MW being wheeled, according to the minister, who said the government plans to increase supply through grid stabilisation, asset optimisation and investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure.

“We’re struggling to wheel 5,000 megawatts today, and my target is that by the end of this year, we will conveniently be wheeling 6,500 megawatts. We will be wheeling conveniently 8,000 megawatts by the end of next year,” Tegbe said.

Why the government is creating RAMCO

The minister said RAMCO was created to change how public power infrastructure is managed, with emphasis on maintaining existing assets and improving their operational lifespan.

Rather than measuring the company’s performance by the number of assets under its management, Tegbe said its success would be determined by the reliability and sustainability of those assets.

“RAMCO is not going to be measured by how many megawatts it delivers, but the reliability of the delivery and the sustainability of that delivery,” he said.

He said Nigeria has significant energy resources and installed power infrastructure but has struggled to translate these into reliable electricity for consumers.

RAMCO, he added, is intended to treat public power infrastructure as national investments that must be preserved and properly managed.

Three corridors targeted for grid stabilisation

The Ministry of Power has identified the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Onitsha axis as priority areas for grid stabilisation.

According to Tegbe, technical audits are ongoing along the corridors to determine the condition of transmission towers, substations and other installations.

Some of the infrastructure, he said, has been in service for more than four decades.

The findings from the audits will guide the replacement of ageing equipment and other interventions required to strengthen the transmission network.

FG moves to address power sector debt

The minister also said the government is working to address the liquidity crisis affecting the electricity sector.

He said this includes tackling accumulated debts and tariff shortfalls that have continued to discourage investment across the sector.

Tegbe said the government is developing a framework for sustainable repayment while working towards closing tariff shortfalls.

Although RAMCO is being introduced around renewable energy assets, the minister said its mandate would eventually cover the entire national grid.

The government expects the new approach to asset management, combined with grid upgrades and investment across the power value chain, to support its 6,500MW target for 2026 and 8,000MW target for 2027.