The Federal Government has intensified efforts to tackle Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis as it moves to establish dedicated 24-hour power zones across major economic and industrial centres, including parts of Lagos, Abuja and other key cities.
The initiative is aimed at providing more reliable electricity to businesses, industries and communities located within selected high-demand corridors, while also boosting economic activities and reducing dependence on alternative sources of power.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the plan during engagements with electricity distribution companies and other stakeholders in the sector.
Lagos, Abuja, Others in FG’s Power Plan
Among the areas being considered under the proposed Energy Zone initiative are the Lagos industrial corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt axis.
The government is focusing on areas where electricity demand is particularly high and where improved power supply could have a significant impact on industrial production, investment and job creation.
The plan represents a shift towards creating targeted areas with more dependable electricity supply, rather than waiting for improvements across the entire national grid before addressing the needs of major economic centres.
Why FG Is Targeting These Areas
According to the government, Nigeria’s electricity challenge is not solely a problem of generation.
There are also challenges around transmission capacity, distribution infrastructure, metering, collection and the ability of DisCos to deliver available electricity to consumers.
The proposed power zones are therefore expected to bring together improvements across the electricity value chain to ensure that power generated and transmitted to the selected areas can actually reach homes, businesses and industries.
Lagos Industrial Corridor Gets Major Attention
Lagos is expected to remain a major focus because of its enormous industrial and commercial electricity demand.
The government has identified the Lagos industrial corridor as one of the areas where improved electricity supply could significantly support manufacturing and other productive activities.
Officials have also indicated that technical assessments are being carried out in priority industrial corridors to determine the infrastructure requirements for achieving more reliable power supply.
Abuja Industrial Area Also Set for 24-Hour Power
In Abuja, a separate 50MW electrification project at the Idu Industrial Estate is already being developed to provide more reliable electricity to industries and businesses.
The project is expected to be implemented in phases, with an initial 10MW capacity targeted for December 2026, while the remaining capacity is expected to follow in 2027.
DisCos Join FG’s Push
Major electricity distribution companies, including Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, have been involved in discussions surrounding the proposed Energy Zones.
The government believes that improved electricity supply to productive areas could help industries expand operations, reduce energy costs and create additional employment opportunities.
What Nigerians Should Know
The announcement does not mean the entire country will immediately enjoy 24-hour electricity.
Rather, the Federal Government is pursuing a targeted approach in selected high-demand areas, with the aim of establishing zones where electricity can be supplied more consistently.
For residents and businesses in the proposed locations, the major question now is when the projects will become operational and how many communities and businesses will be covered.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could mark a significant development in Nigeria’s long-running effort to provide more reliable electricity for households, businesses and industries.