Abu dhabi: Nigeria's Federal Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, announced ongoing discussions between Nigeria and the UAE aimed at increasing Nigeria's electricity generation capacity by approximately 5,000 megawatts. The collaboration focuses on solar energy, financing, and the exchange of expertise and technical ideas.

According to Emirates News Agency, Tegbe emphasized the broad cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE, highlighting the potential for Emirati financial support for various programs and proposals to enhance Nigeria's power generation. He noted that solar energy is a significant area of focus due to the countries' similar levels of solar irradiation, which facilitates the exchange of ideas and information to bolster energy projects.

Tegbe stated that the cooperation extends beyond financing, encompassing the exchange of technical knowledge and lessons learned. He also discussed Nigeria's ongoing reforms in the electricity sector, which include upgrading the power grid, replacing aging infrastructure, and strengthening the network to improve stability and resilience.

The minister highlighted efforts to rehabilitate electricity transmission lines to accommodate future demands and address aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses. These reforms aim to transition from a centralized electricity sector to a more decentralized model, empowering subnational governments with greater control over electricity generation and distribution.

Tegbe affirmed that these initiatives are designed to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and capacity of Nigeria's electricity system to better meet the needs of its citizens.