Power Minister Joseph Tegbe pushes Chinese firms to move beyond construction contracts and co-invest in generation, transmission and industrial projects.
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to secure faster delivery of major electricity projects by seeking deeper investment commitments from Chinese engineering companies and financial institutions.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe made the push during high-level meetings with Chinese power-sector companies in Beijing as part of an ongoing Nigeria-China power sector mission.
The discussions focused on accelerating projects under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and attracting Chinese capital, technology and expertise into Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
The Federal Government’s approach is centred on converting agreements into completed infrastructure, with progress measured by additional generation capacity, energized transmission lines and more reliable electricity supply.
Nigeria has continued to face transmission constraints and grid instability despite efforts to increase generation. The Federal Ministry of Power has identified grid stability as a key requirement for translating generation gains into reliable electricity for households and businesses.
Tegbe seeks broader role for Chinese firms
At meetings with Sinomach Group and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), Tegbe pushed for firm completion timelines for ongoing PPI projects.
He also called for a broader partnership model that would move beyond conventional engineering, procurement and construction contracts.
Under the proposed model, Chinese companies would participate as co-investors, bringing financing, technology and technical expertise into power generation, transmission, hydropower and related industrial projects.
The approach is significant because access to financing has remained a major factor in the pace at which large infrastructure projects are delivered.
CMEC already has a role in Nigeria’s PPI programme. The FGN Power Company says the initiative is designed to address infrastructure gaps through end-to-end investments in transmission, distribution and related electricity infrastructure.
Government targets transmission bottlenecks
Tegbe also held discussions with the China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) on expanding cooperation in Nigeria’s transmission network.
Transmission remains one of the critical weak points in Nigeria’s electricity system. The government has previously described grid stability as the foundation for improvements across the wider power sector.
In July, the Ministry of Power said it was pursuing fresh investment to address transmission bottlenecks, ageing infrastructure and recurring grid collapses.
The latest China engagement therefore places particular emphasis on projects that can increase the amount of electricity the national grid is able to transmit.
PPI seeks to expand power infrastructure
The Presidential Power Initiative is being implemented through the FGN Power Company, which was established as a special-purpose vehicle to coordinate the programme.
The company says the PPI is structured in phases, with its long-term target focused on increasing Nigeria’s power generation capacity and improving transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The initiative has already recorded pilot projects across locations including Okene in Kogi State, Amukpe in Delta State, Potiskum in Yobe State, Apo in Abuja and Ihovbor in Edo State, according to the FGN Power Company.
The challenge now is to translate individual projects and contracts into infrastructure that produces measurable improvements for electricity consumers.
China-Nigeria power cooperation expands
The latest discussions form part of a broader push to deepen China-Nigeria economic cooperation in the power sector.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai said in August that power infrastructure and new energy were priority areas for China-Nigeria cooperation.
During a meeting with Tegbe, the ambassador said China was prepared to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in power infrastructure and new energy while supporting the country’s industrialisation efforts.
Tegbe, who also serves as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, has previously been involved in efforts to attract Chinese investment into Nigerian infrastructure and industrial projects.
President Bola Tinubu appointed him Minister of Power in June 2026 following Senate confirmation.
The bigger issue for Nigeria
For Nigeria, the importance of the Beijing meetings will ultimately depend on whether the commitments produce projects that can be financed, completed and brought into operation.
New generation capacity alone cannot solve the country’s electricity problems if transmission infrastructure cannot carry the additional power.
That makes the government’s emphasis on generation, transmission, financing and industrial manufacturing as an interconnected value chain particularly important.
The proposed co-investment model could also reduce the pressure on government to fund major infrastructure projects entirely through public resources, although the commercial and financing terms of any new agreements will determine how quickly the projects can move from negotiations to implementation.
What happens next
The immediate focus will be on converting the commitments reached in China into bankable projects, financing arrangements and firm construction schedules.
For Nigerians and businesses, the ultimate measure will not be the number of agreements signed but whether they translate into higher available power, stronger transmission capacity and fewer disruptions to electricity supply.
The Federal Government’s China mission therefore represents another test of its broader power-sector reform strategy: turning international partnerships and infrastructure contracts into reliable electricity that reaches consumers.
