TCN MD Defends Grid Capacity, Says Transmission Not Nigeria’s Power Bottleneck
..Grid Ready to Wheel 8700MW
By Raphael Ekpang
The Managing Director/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has insisted that Nigeria’s transmission network is not the primary constraint to electricity supply delivery, stating that the national grid currently has the capacity to wheel 8,700 megawatts (MW), far above the highest power ever generated and delivered to it.
Speaking at a four-day Parliamentary and Stakeholders’ Engagement Summit on Power Sector Reforms in Nigeria holding in Lagos, Abdulaziz said available industry data clearly show that transmission infrastructure is not responsible for the country’s persistent electricity shortages.
According to him, while Nigeria’s installed generation capacity stands at 13,625MW, the highest volume of electricity ever generated and delivered to the national grid was 5,801.84MW, recorded on March 4, 2025.
“The transmission network has consistently wheeled every megawatt made available to it. Our grid has the capacity and our operators have the competence. The transmission network of Nigeria is ready,” he stated.
The TCN boss said the company has significantly expanded the nation’s bulk power wheeling capacity from about 7,000MW to 8,700MW through strategic investments and infrastructure upgrades supported by the Federal Government and international development partners.
He noted that on the same day the historic peak generation of 5,801.84MW was achieved, the national grid also recorded a single-day energy delivery of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh), the highest in Nigeria’s history.
Abdulaziz highlighted several achievements recorded by TCN between January 2024 and November 2025, including the commissioning of 82 power transformers nationwide, which added approximately 8,500 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of transformation capacity to the grid.
Among the substations upgraded or commissioned during the period are the Ajah, Egbin, Enugu New Haven, Onitsha, Gombe, Kano Kumbotso, Apo, Jos, Benin and Bauchi substations.
He also listed major transmission projects completed by the company, including the Delta-Effurun 132kV transmission line reconductoring project, the Benin-Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line strengthening works, and the commissioning of the Ihovbor/Benin-Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In Turn-Out (TITO) lines in April 2026.
According to him, the Ihovbor TITO project has significantly improved grid redundancy, operational flexibility and power evacuation capability in one of the country’s most strategic power generation hubs.
Engr. Abdulaziz further disclosed that the company has attracted over $1.4 billion in development finance from international partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Agence Française de Développement, for transmission infrastructure projects across the country.
He added that TCN is also advancing the deployment of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system aimed at modernising grid operations through real-time monitoring, faster fault detection and improved power flow management.
Despite the progress, Abdulaziz identified several challenges affecting the power sector, including vandalism of transmission infrastructure, right-of-way encroachments, funding constraints, foreign exchange pressures, land acquisition difficulties and inadequate coordination across the electricity value chain.
He called on the National Assembly to enact stronger laws protecting critical electricity infrastructure, establish a nationally consistent right-of-way framework, ensure adequate funding for transmission projects and support the full implementation of the Electricity Act 2023.
The TCN chief also urged policymakers to promote coordinated investments across generation, gas supply, transmission and distribution segments to unlock Nigeria’s full power generation potential.
“The journey to reliable electricity in Nigeria is not a sprint; it is a structured, long-term national project requiring sustained commitment, well-sequenced investment and clear-eyed governance,” he said.
Reaffirming TCN’s commitment to improving electricity supply, Abdulaziz said the company remains focused on building a more resilient and efficient national grid capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial development.
He expressed confidence that the summit would produce actionable recommendations that would strengthen the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and accelerate progress toward reliable electricity for all Nigerians.
