Nigeria Sets New Power Generation Record Amid Ambitious Energy Reforms
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Nigeria has achieved a historic milestone in its power sector, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announcing a new peak power generation of 5,543.20 megawatts. This remarkable feat was recorded on Friday, February 14, 2025, at precisely 11:00 PM, surpassing the previous record of 5,478.73MW set just a day earlier.
The landmark achievement was disclosed in a statement released by TCN on Wednesday. “The Transmission Company of Nigeria is pleased to announce that the Nigerian Power Sector achieved a new peak generation of 5,543.20MW for the year 2025, on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 11:00 pm. This surpasses the previous peak of 5,478.73MW recorded on Thursday, February 13, 2025,” the statement read.
Breaking Records in Energy Distribution
In addition to the peak power generation, TCN also reported a new record in energy distribution. The Maximum Daily Energy for the day reached 125,159.48MWH, exceeding the previous high of 121,674.88MWH, set on February 7, 2025, by an impressive 3,484.60MWH.
The company confirmed that it successfully transmitted this new peak generation and maximum daily energy to Nigeria’s distribution companies, ensuring efficient distribution to consumers nationwide. This achievement is seen as a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s chronic power shortages.
Ambitious Plans to Energise Nigeria
The milestone coincides with the government’s ambitious energy reform agenda, aimed at improving electricity access and reliability. Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, revealed plans to move most Nigerian electricity consumers to Band A. This category ensures over 20 hours of daily power supply.
Verheijen emphasised that the initiative seeks to energise underserved and unserved communities across the country. A crucial part of this plan involves ensuring all consumers are metered, thereby improving cash flow and driving further investments in the power sector.
“So, whether you’re a business or in an industrial cluster, you should see improved distribution capacity, improved reliability, and improved access. And the Discos now have the capital and cash flow to deploy more investment and infrastructure. So, you should feel the difference in terms of service levels,” she stated.
Addressing Sector Challenges and Reforming Privatisation
Verheijen also acknowledged the challenges posed by the power sector’s illiquidity, which has hindered gas companies from recovering payments from power generation companies. She noted, “About 60 to 70 per cent of Nigeria’s gas goes to one sector—the power sector. But you can’t diversify if the cash flows don’t work.”
Addressing structural issues within the power industry, Verheijen criticised the privatisation process, stating that it lacked the rigorous evaluation needed to ensure that investors had the financial and technical capacity to drive reliability and growth.
Hope for a Brighter Future
The government’s ongoing reforms aim to create a more viable power sector that benefits both distribution companies and consumers. By moving more customers to Band A, the administration hopes to significantly enhance service levels and boost industrial productivity across the country.
This latest achievement in power generation not only marks a historic moment but also signals a renewed commitment to overcoming Nigeria’s long-standing energy challenges. As the government pushes forward with its reform agenda, many are optimistic that Nigeria is on the path to a more reliable and sustainable power supply.
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