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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has declared that the country’s transmission wheeling capacity has risen to 8,700 megawatts (MW), whereas the highest volume of power ever generated and delivered to the national grid was 5,801.84MW.
Speaking at a four-day parliamentary and stakeholders’ engagement summit on power sector reforms in Nigeria, Abdulaziz stated that TCN has consistently wheeled all available generation, demonstrating that the transmission network is ready to support higher levels of electricity delivery.
Dwelling on his achievements over the years, Abdulaziz noted that TCN has expanded the nation’s bulk wheeling capacity from about 7,000MW to 8,700MW, adding 1,700MW of transmission capability through strategic investments supported by the Federal Government and development partners.
For instance, on March 4, 2025, the national grid achieved a historic peak transmission record of 5,801.84MW and a record daily energy delivery of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh)—the highest ever recorded in Nigeria’s electricity industry. These milestones, according to him, underscore the growing strength and reliability of the transmission network.
“Between January 2024 and November 2025, TCN commissioned 82 transformers, adding approximately 8,500MVA of transformation capacity nationwide, while also delivering key substations and transmission line projects that have improved grid reliability, redundancy, and operational flexibility across all geopolitical zones.
“TCN has also mobilised over $1.4 billion in development financing from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to support transmission expansion and modernisation projects nationwide.”
In parallel, Abdulaziz explained, the company is advancing grid digitalisation through the implementation of a nationwide Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This will provide real-time network visibility, faster fault management, improved dispatch efficiency, and the foundation for future smart-grid operations.
“These achievements demonstrate TCN’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure, enhancing grid reliability, and positioning the sector to support future growth in electricity generation and delivery,” he said.
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Acknowledging the company’s challenges, Abdulaziz said that TCN has been encumbered by the vandalism and sabotage of transmission infrastructure. These factors, he noted, have continued to disrupt the power supply, increase repair costs, and undermine investments in the sector.
He stated that protecting electricity infrastructure requires stronger security measures, community co-operation, and stricter legal deterrents. The CEO also mentioned that persistent encroachment on the transmission lines’ rights-of-way creates safety risks, hinders maintenance activities, and constrains future network expansion. This situation, according to him, calls for coordinated action among federal, state, and local authorities, supported by a stronger legal framework.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s power sector needs substantial capital investment to expand the grid. Whilst TCN has several critical projects ready for implementation, financing constraints, foreign exchange pressures, and counterpart funding requirements continue to affect project timelines.
Furthermore, he suggested that unlocking Nigeria’s full generation potential requires coordinated investments across the entire value chain.
“While TCN has expanded transmission capacity to 8,700MW, increased generation dispatch, adequate energy supply to power plants, stronger distribution networks remain essential to delivering more electricity to consumers.
“The long-term sustainability of the sector depends on a financially viable electricity market, supported by cost-reflective tariffs, improved revenue collection, stronger payment discipline, and a stable regulatory environment that encourages investment,” TCN noted.
However, land acquisition and community engagement challenges continue to affect the timely delivery of transmission projects.
Meanwhile, Abdulaziz suggested that streamlined processes, fair compensation mechanisms, and structured stakeholder engagement would significantly accelerate infrastructure development. These challenges, he acknowledged, are sector-wide and require coordinated action by the government, regulators, security agencies, market participants, communities, and development partners.
