The Federal Government has commenced discussions with electricity distribution companies on the establishment of Energy Zones designed to provide 24-hour electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries in major economic centres across the country.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, held a closed-door meeting with the management of selected electricity distribution companies to deliberate on the proposed initiative.

The meeting was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s media aide, Adeola Adelabu.

The proposed Energy Zones will cover the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor, which the government identified as areas with high electricity demand.

According to the statement, the initiative is aimed at addressing distribution challenges and ensuring that electricity generated and transmitted through the national grid is delivered more efficiently to consumers.

Tegbe said the challenges confronting Nigeria’s power sector were not limited to generation and transmission, but also included the ability of distribution companies to receive and deliver available electricity to consumers.

“The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end,” he said.

The minister said the Energy Zones would help unlock commercial and industrial demand while improving the revenue and electricity collection performance of distribution companies.

He also stressed the need for electricity infrastructure and supply capacity to expand alongside Nigeria’s growing economy, particularly in areas with strong commercial and industrial activities.

The government, however, has yet to announce a timeline for the implementation of the proposed Energy Zones, their expected capacity or the specific infrastructure projects required to achieve 24-hour supply.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group.

The proposed initiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address persistent challenges in the electricity sector and improve the reliability of power supply to consumers across the country.