The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, says the federal government has identified four major investment opportunities in Nigeria’s multi-tier power market to improve electricity supply and drive economic growth.

Mr Tegbe said the opportunities cover existing generation, productive-demand clusters, distribution infrastructure and distributed energy.

He disclosed this in a speech delivered at the 2026 Energy Conference organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Tegbe was represented by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Clement Ezeorah.

He said investors could unlock more reliable output from existing generation through plant rehabilitation, efficient maintenance, reliable gas supply and adequate evacuation infrastructure.

“Every proposed intervention should be tested against the binding constraint: fuel, plant condition, transmission, distribution or payment,” Mr Tegbe said.

He said increasing generation capacity where other constraints existed could tie up capital without improving electricity supply to consumers.

Mr Tegbe identified industrial estates, ports, agro-processing centres and commercial clusters as opportunities for embedded generation and dedicated power supply.

He said gas producers could partner with developers, distributors and industrial users to develop integrated gas-to-power projects.

The minister also identified feeder rehabilitation, substations, transformers, meters and digital revenue systems as investment opportunities in the distribution segment.

He said improved metering could strengthen customer confidence, improve energy accounting and help distinguish technical losses from theft and collection challenges.

Mr Tegbe identified mini-grids, commercial solar, energy storage and hybrid systems as opportunities to serve communities and businesses poorly served by existing infrastructure.

He said productive uses such as irrigation, refrigeration and small-scale manufacturing could turn improved electricity access into sustainable demand.

He said the Electricity Act 2023 had expanded opportunities for state participation and private investment while maintaining a coordinated national electricity system.

He said Nigeria’s multi-tier electricity market combined federal and state jurisdictions with grid-connected, embedded, captive and distributed power systems.

According to him, the different arrangements allow investors to match technologies and commercial models with specific customer needs.

Mr Tegbe urged investors to look beyond electricity generation and consider the wider economic value that reliable power could unlock around their projects.

He said the government would pursue partnerships with clear responsibilities, realistic milestones and measurable service outcomes.

Earlier, the Conference Chairman and Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, said energy assets should create value beyond ownership.

Mr Adesina said reliable electricity could support manufacturing, logistics and services while expanding economic activity around energy investments.

He urged investors to consider how their energy projects could support wider economic activity while delivering sustainable returns.

The conference, organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), had the theme, “Access to Assets: Empowering Players and Driving Growth.” 

(NAN)