TCN says transmission grid can now take 8,700MW, blames DisCos for poor supply

Nigeria's electricity transmission network can now handle up to 8,700 megawatts (MW), according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). But TCN is asking distribution companies to prepare to receive and deliver the power to homes and businesses.

The disclosure shifts attention from generation and transmission to the country's distribution companies, which TCN says must be capable of taking more electricity. The Executive Director of Transmission Service Provider (TSP) at TCN, Engr. Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, made this known at a TCN workshop in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

TCN says infrastructure is ready

Ajiboye said TCN had substantially strengthened its transmission and transformation infrastructure over the past six months through investments in equipment and installation of additional power transformers. He explained that while the 8,700MW capacity has not yet been physically tested on the national grid, TCN had simulated the system and determined that its infrastructure could accommodate the volume.

He argued that transmission capacity should no longer be viewed as the only major bottleneck in Nigeria's electricity supply chain. Ajiboye said DisCos frequently raise concerns that areas where they need electricity do not always correspond with locations where TCN has available capacity.

The TCN executive challenged this position, questioning why some parts of the country should remain without adequate electricity when transmission infrastructure is available. He also claimed that commercial considerations were limiting the amount of electricity some DisCos were willing to receive. According to Ajiboye, DisCos are businesses and may hesitate to take additional electricity when they believe they cannot generate sufficient revenue from selling it to customers.

New record and added transformers

TCN's latest claim builds on a milestone recorded in 2025, when the national grid successfully transmitted 5,801.84MW, described by the company as its highest-ever wheeling achievement. Ajiboye maintained that the industry's challenge is therefore not simply a lack of capacity across the transmission network.

He urged stakeholders who doubt TCN's capacity claims to inspect its substations and verify the nameplate ratings of its transformers. The TCN official said the company currently has more than 8,500MW of transformation capacity, adding that the figure could support higher electricity transmission if the available transformers are adequately utilised.

He also disclosed that TCN had added about 89 power transformers to its network as part of efforts to strengthen the national grid. In Lagos, he said additional transformers had recently been installed through interventions supported by the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Pressure shifts to DisCos

TCN's position highlights a crucial reality in Nigeria's power sector. Generating more electricity alone will not automatically translate into reliable supply.

For additional power to reach consumers, the entire chain must work efficiently, from generation and transmission to distribution and revenue collection. With TCN claiming it can now wheel up to 8,700MW, pressure could increasingly shift toward DisCos to demonstrate that they have the infrastructure, commercial capacity and willingness to receive and distribute more electricity.

For Nigerians still battling blackouts and rising electricity costs, the critical question remains whether the country can turn this reported capacity into steady, reliable power for homes and businesses.