Amanze Chinonye
The Federal Government is negotiating a $2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China to finance the construction of a new national “super grid,” aimed at stabilising electricity supply and boosting industrial growth across the country.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this at an economic summit in Abuja, saying the transmission project had received government approval and would serve as a new high-capacity backbone linking Nigeria’s eastern and western industrial corridors.
According to the minister, the initiative is expected to enhance power reliability, encourage large-scale manufacturers who had disconnected from the unreliable national grid to reconnect, and reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on costly self-generation.
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“We are in advanced discussions with China’s Exim Bank for a $2 billion financing package to construct a national super grid that will stabilise supply across the country. This is part of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda to decentralise generation and modernise transmission infrastructure,” Adelabu said.
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Nigeria currently has an installed generation capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, but delivers an average of around 4,500 to 5,000 MW to consumers due to transmission bottlenecks, losses, and frequent grid disturbances, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and recent sector reports.
Adelabu added that tariff reforms introduced in 2024 had boosted industry revenues by about 70 percent, with total power-sector revenue projected to exceed ₦2 trillion in 2025.
He explained that the proposed super grid designed as a high-voltage transmission backbone would significantly improve electricity evacuation and distribution to industrial clusters across the country.
The Minister also recalled that earlier in the year, the Federal Government signed an agreement with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to upgrade existing transmission infrastructure under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), describing it as a precursor to the larger super-grid plan.
Energy analysts have welcomed the proposal as a potential step toward resolving Nigeria’s chronic transmission constraints but warned that transparency, debt sustainability, and technical oversight will be crucial to ensuring the project’s long-term success.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
