Reports indicate that the Nigerian Government is planning to spend US$2.7 billion on power grid infrastructure development.
The funds will be used to help the restoration and upgrade of Nigeria’s electrical transmission substations and lines, in order to expand the power transmission network and enable distribution businesses to better serve their customers.
Nigeria’s electricity grid is antiquated and unable to assure reliable power transmission, with claims of the grid collapsing twice in less than 48 hours.
Nigeria is working on a number of initiatives to improve its grid, including the US$486 million Nigeria Transmission Expansion Project (NTEP), which is being funded by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
The project is part of the government’s nationwide Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program (TREP). The project’s first phase is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.
The US$568 million North Core Interconnection Power Transmission Line, a regional project involving the West African Power Pool (WAPP), is also being implemented by Africa’s largest economy.
The project will connect the electrical networks of West African countries, with the goal of eventually connecting all fourteen ECOWAS countries on the continent.
The US$200 million Nigeria Electrification Project, funded by the federal government, is another project aimed at improving the country’s grid.
The African Development Bank will fund the US$210 million Nigeria Transmission and Expansion Programme, the US$170 million Abuja Power Feeding Transmission Scheme, and the US$245 million Northern Corridor Transmission Line, which will be funded by the French Development Bank.
In 2013, the West African country privatised its power producing system in order to improve its electricity condition, however grid infrastructure concerns are limiting the country’s electricity supply potential.
The country aims to reach a total generation capacity of 40, 000 megawatts by 2020, although the current capacity is only 12,000 MW.
The federal government is attempting to eliminate power interruptions, which impede people from meeting ordinary business and family needs, resulting in significant economic and social consequences.
The project’s overall result will be a rise in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) supported by a steady supply of power for industries and companies.
