FG Plans Energy Zones for 24-Hour Power in Lagos, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Enugu-Port Harcourt Corridors
By Aboki Forex —
The Federal Government has opened talks with electricity distribution companies on plans to create dedicated Energy Zones that would deliver 24-hour electricity to homes, businesses and industries in key parts of Nigeria.
The zones will target major economic corridors, including the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and the Enugu-Port Harcourt route. The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the plan during a closed-door meeting with representatives of selected DisCos and energy companies.
Why the government wants the zones
According to a statement from the Ministry of Power, the proposed Energy Zones are meant to fix distribution bottlenecks and ensure that electricity generated and sent to the national grid reaches consumers more consistently.
Tegbe said Nigeria's power problem is not only about generation and transmission, stressing that the distribution network must also have the capacity to receive and deliver available electricity.
"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 zones would help close the gap between available electricity and actual consumption, while creating room for businesses and industries that need more reliable power.
The government also expects the plan to lift the revenue and collection performance of DisCos by pushing more power into productive areas.
Who was at the meeting
Representatives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group attended the meeting.
The ministry said the zones will focus on locations where stable electricity is critical to manufacturing, commerce and other productive activities.
The meeting formed part of Tegbe's stated plan to tackle longstanding problems in the power sector through a structured and phased approach.
Key details still missing
The ministry did not say when the Energy Zones would become operational, how much electricity each zone would receive, or the infrastructure investments required to deliver round-the-clock supply.
The proposal comes as Nigerians and businesses continue to battle unreliable electricity, even when power is available for distribution. If implemented, it could give more stable supply to some of the country's biggest commercial and industrial centres, while helping DisCos deliver and collect payment for electricity more effectively.
Separately, the Lagos State Government recently signed a Power Purchase Agreement with three firms to boost supply. That deal aims to raise generation capacity from about 60MW to 400MW within two to three years without extra financial strain on the state, revive dormant facilities and expand supply to key public institutions and communities.