The Federal Government is working with electricity distribution companies to establish special energy zones that could provide round-the-clock electricity to homes, businesses and industries in major demand centres across Nigeria.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed this after a meeting with the management of selected Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), according to a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Adelabu.
The proposed energy zones are expected to cover the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and the Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
Tegbe said the initiative was designed to strengthen electricity supply in areas with high commercial and industrial demand by addressing challenges across the distribution side of the power sector.
He explained that the country’s electricity challenges extend beyond generation and transmission, noting that the ability of DisCos to receive available electricity and deliver it efficiently to consumers remains a major constraint.
According to the minister, the proposed zones would help bridge distribution gaps, increase electricity uptake by businesses and industries, and improve the revenue and collection performance of DisCos.
He added that the Federal Government would continue investing in power infrastructure in areas where demand is rising, stressing that electricity capacity must expand alongside economic growth.
The minister linked the initiative to the administration’s broader efforts to improve energy reliability, support industrialisation and create an environment for job creation.
Meanwhile, Seplat Energy has called for increased investment in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, saying the country’s substantial gas reserves could play a major role in addressing its energy challenges.
Seplat Energy Chief Executive Officer, Effiong Okon, made the call at an energy conference themed “Positioning Nigeria as Africa’s Global Gas Powerhouse.”
Okon said Nigeria has more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, but stressed that the resource would have limited economic value without adequate investment in production, processing, transportation and utilisation infrastructure.
He also pointed to the scale of energy poverty across Africa, noting that an estimated 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity.
“Gas reserves in the ground do not power homes or factories,” Okon said, stressing that reliable production and delivery are necessary to transform the resource into economic and industrial benefits.
He said converting Nigeria’s gas resources into dependable energy could support industrial development, expand electricity access and contribute to broader economic growth.
