Tegbe seeks deeper Chinese cooperation on Nigeria’s power projects

The Federal Government is seeking to move Chinese participation in Nigeria’s power sector beyond conventional engineering contracts to co-investment in generation, transmission and hydropower projects, Nigeria’s Power Minister, Joseph Tegbe has said.

Tegbe made the proposal during high-level engagements with Chinese power engineering companies and financial institutions in Beijing, as Nigeria moves to accelerate infrastructure delivery under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

Under the proposed model, Chinese partners would provide capital alongside technology and technical expertise, with the government seeking to turn existing partnerships into bankable projects and completed infrastructure.

At a meeting with Sinomach Group and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), major contractors involved in Nigeria’s generation and transmission programmes, Tegbe also pushed for accelerated completion schedules for ongoing PPI projects.

The Minister said the expanded partnership should deliver faster project completion, additional wheeling capacity and blended financing structures.

He also engaged China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) on cooperation in expanding Nigeria’s transmission network, where capacity constraints continue to limit the amount of electricity that can be delivered to consumers.

The delegation further witnessed a factory acceptance test for high-voltage cables and other transmission materials at Hengfei Cable’s Changsha Industrial Park.

The test is intended to confirm that equipment destined for Nigerian transmission projects meets required technical standards before shipment, reducing the risk of delays during installation.

Tegbe also sought Chinese investment in industries that could create sustained demand for electricity, including steel, automotive manufacturing, digital infrastructure and data centres, cold-chain logistics and sugar processing.

He proposed a Nigeria-China industrial cooperation platform to identify and develop bankable projects linked to Nigeria’s industrialisation priorities.

The Ministry said the approach is intended to match new power generation and transmission capacity with industrial demand, while supporting job creation and improving the commercial viability of the electricity sector.

The engagements form part of the Federal Government’s effort to mobilise foreign capital and technical expertise to expand Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and improve reliability.