The Federal Government has set a target of delivering 8,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation and transmission by the end of 2027 as part of its broader plan to improve power supply and strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday at the launch of the Renewable Energy Assets Management Company (RAMCO) in Abuja by the Rural Electrification Agency.
Tegbe said the government was targeting 6,500MW by the end of 2026, although Nigeria currently struggles to transmit about 5,000MW.
“We are struggling to wheel 5,000MW today. My target is that by the end of this year, we’ll confidently be wheeling 6,500MW. By the end of next year, we will be wheeling conveniently 8,000MW,” he said.
FG Targets 24-Hour Electricity Supply
The minister also expressed optimism that Nigerians could soon begin to enjoy more reliable, round-the-clock electricity, describing recent improvements in the power sector as only the beginning of the administration’s broader reform programme.
Tegbe said Nigeria had for years faced the paradox of possessing significant energy resources and power infrastructure while still struggling to provide dependable electricity.
“Nigeria has lived too long with an embarrassing paradox. We’re very rich in power assets, energy resources, and installed infrastructure, yet we’re poor in the ability to depend on electricity.”
He added that the government was working towards a situation where Nigerians would eventually have access to 24/7 electricity.
RAMCO to Transform Renewable Energy Management
Tegbe said the newly established RAMCO would introduce a new approach to managing and maintaining renewable energy infrastructure across the country.
According to him, the organisation’s mandate could eventually be expanded beyond renewable energy assets to cover the wider electricity grid.
He said the new model would be built around professional management, accountability, sustainability and measurable performance.
“For me, RAMCO offers a different model, a new paradigm. And like I said, I’m committed to not only limiting this to renewable energy; we will also shift it to the entire grid.”
The minister stressed that the success of the initiative would not be measured solely by the amount of electricity delivered, but also by the reliability and sustainability of supply.
Government Plans More Diverse Power System
The Federal Government is also working towards developing a more flexible electricity system that combines conventional grid power with several decentralised energy solutions.
Tegbe said the planned system would integrate:
- Grid electricity
- Embedded generation
- Interconnected renewable energy
- Distributed renewable energy resources
- Energy storage
- Mini-grids and other technologies
He explained that different energy solutions would be deployed according to the needs of particular communities and economic clusters.
Areas without access to transmission infrastructure would increasingly rely on mini-grids.
“Wherever we don’t have transmission lines, we will fill it up with mini-grids going forward,” he said.
Power Supply Critical to AI and Data Centres
Tegbe said the government’s ambition extends beyond simply increasing electricity supply, stressing that reliable power would be central to Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.
He said the administration wants electricity infrastructure to support manufacturing, create prosperity and power emerging industries, particularly artificial intelligence and data centres.
“Our ambition is much bigger than just ending darkness. Our ambition is to use electricity to build prosperity, to make Nigeria competitive for manufacturing and to power the next generation of digital infrastructure.”
According to the minister, the rapidly growing energy requirements of AI infrastructure are already creating increased demand for reliable electricity.
“What is going to drive the electricity power supply in the next generation is not only manufacturing; it’s AI. The energy demand of AI is high.”
He noted that companies seeking to establish data centres are increasingly interested in locating their facilities close to power generation sources because of their substantial electricity requirements.
Reliability to Become Key Performance Measure
The minister said future assessments of the power sector should focus not only on megawatts generated but also on the consistency and sustainability of electricity delivery.
He emphasised that RAMCO would therefore be assessed on the reliability of its services as well as the volume of electricity delivered.
“RAMCO will not only be measured by how many megawatts you deliver but also the reliability of your delivery and the sustainability of that delivery.”
Tegbe also commended the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, for supporting the development of the RAMCO initiative and moving quickly to establish the new model.
REA Highlights Role of RAMCO
Earlier, Aliyu thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting the initiative, saying government backing had helped accelerate the deployment of electricity to universities and teaching hospitals.
He explained that RAMCO was established to ensure that renewable energy assets deployed across these institutions remain operational and sustainable over the long term.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to improve electricity access, strengthen renewable energy infrastructure and create a more reliable power system capable of supporting both households and Nigeria’s growing industrial and digital economy.
