Unlock Idle Generation First, TCN Chief Tells Power Sector Stakeholders
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. (Dr.) Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has said Nigeria’s electricity sector should focus on power that is available, deliverable and commercially sustainable rather than the country’s more than 13,000MW of installed generation capacity.
Speaking at the 2026 Energy Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, Abdulaziz said Nigeria’s electricity challenge goes beyond installed capacity, stressing that the key issues are whether generated power is available, can be dispatched through the grid and sustained by a functional electricity market.
He identified restoring unavailable generation capacity as the most impactful short-term measure to improve electricity supply, describing it as the biggest opportunity to increase power available to consumers.
He called for reliable gas supply, predictable commercial arrangements across the gas-to-power value chain and coordinated maintenance to reduce power plant downtime.
According to him, existing policy frameworks, including the Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan and National Integrated Electricity Policy, should translate into measurable increases in generation availability. He said progress should be assessed by the additional electricity delivered to consumers rather than the number of policy documents produced.
On transmission infrastructure, Abdulaziz said TCN currently has a simulated wheeling capacity of about 8,700MW, although actual power evacuation depends on network availability, system stability and the ability of distribution companies to receive electricity.
He disclosed that the company installed 82 power transformers between January 2024 and November 2025, adding about 8,500MVA in transformation capacity to strengthen the national grid.
The TCN chief said the company remains focused on reinforcing and rehabilitating the transmission network through improved availability of transmission lines and transformers, stronger protection systems and enhanced grid visibility using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Energy Management System tools.
Abdulaziz also identified improved market liquidity as the third priority intervention, warning that technical gains in generation and transmission would not be sustainable without addressing persistent payment shortfalls within the electricity value chain.
He said strengthening the commercial framework would require credible metering, transparent settlement systems, improved revenue collection, enforcement of market obligations and regulatory measures that make contracts and payments more predictable.
As part of the way forward, Abdulaziz proposed a 100-day implementation scorecard to track increases in generation availability, identify network constraints and monitor commercial reforms, with clear responsibilities, timelines and measurable outcomes for all stakeholders in the sector.
