Grid Stability, Investment, Energy Security critical to building reliable Power Sector - Minister

The Federal Government says it will improve the utilisation of existing power assets, boost industrial productivity and attract more investments into the electricity sector.

Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, said this on Tuesday at the Nigeria Energy Leadership Summit in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “Powering the Nation: Nigeria’s Roadmap to Grid Stability, Investment and Energy Security”, Tegbe said grid stability, investment and energy security were critical to building a reliable and sustainable power sector.

He said that powering the nation required more than expanding installed generation capacity.

He added that there was a need to address growing demand, mobilise capital and develop infrastructure to convert available energy into usable electricity.

Tegbe said that improved access to quality electricity would enable manufacturers to plan production, sustain essential healthcare services and provide investors with a stable operating environment.

The minister said that successful reforms required leadership with the political will to address longstanding challenges.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu had demonstrated commitment to addressing structural weaknesses in the sector, including through Executive Order 23.

Tegbe said that the Federal Government planned to install more than seven million electricity meters within the next three years to enhance accountability and transparency.

He added that the government would train more than 50,000 youths in meter installation and related skills, beginning with 5,000 trainees every quarter.

Also speaking, Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that no economy could grow beyond the capacity of its electricity supply.

Ogunleye said that reliable and affordable electricity was essential for businesses to thrive and investments to grow.

He stressed the need for collaboration among the Federal and state governments, regulators and private investors to develop a reliable and sustainable electricity sector.

Jitender Sachdeva, Group President of SkippersSeil Group, said that the government could not fund the power sector alone and called for greater private-sector participation in financing electricity infrastructure.

Sachdeva also urged the government to ensure prompt payment to contractors to facilitate the timely completion of substations across the country.

Ade Yesufu, Exhibition Director, said that more than 200 companies from nine countries were showcasing technologies aimed at improving power generation and delivery.

Yesufu said that Nigeria had significant opportunities to expand electricity generation, given its installed capacity, abundant gas resources and growing community of investors and innovators.

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Abuja Ebola Patient, Husband evacuated to Switzerland as WHO declares Nigeria Free

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, says Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases following the medical evacuation of the patient and her husband to Switzerland.

Janabi disclosed this in a statement on his official X handle on Monday, adding that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland would manage the patient and follow up her husband.

He said the evacuation took place earlier in the morning, noting that both the patient and her husband were Swiss citizens.

According to him, the patient was clinically stable after Nigerian medical teams successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition.

Janabi congratulated the Federal Government, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and other partners involved in the Ebola response, describing the development as a remarkable achievement.

He said the successful management of the patient demonstrated Africa’s expertise, resilience and leadership in public health, particularly when countries worked together to respond to health emergencies.

However, the WHO regional director stressed that vigilance remained critical despite the evacuation, urging continued attention to contact monitoring and other response measures.

He said Nigeria would maintain close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland would assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and monitoring of contact number 53, her husband.

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Polaris Bank deepens Sustainability Commitment with Tree Planting at Lekki Conservation Centre

Polaris Bank has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability with a tree-planting exercise at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), as part of its ongoing efforts to promote climate action, environmental conservation and sustainable community development.

The exercise, held recently, builds on the Bank’s nationwide tree-planting initiative launched in 2024. Since its inception, the initiative has recorded the planting of 10,000 trees across 16 locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 13 states across Nigeria, reflecting the Bank’s commitment to translating its sustainability principles into measurable impact.

Speaking at the event, Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Polaris Bank, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to embedding sustainability into its operations and community engagement efforts.

“At Polaris Bank, sustainability is not a slogan, it is a principle that guides our daily actions. It is about transforming bold commitments into measurable impact. Each of these trees represents more than just a number; they stand for communities empowered, degraded lands restored, and livelihoods supported,” she said.

She noted that the partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation at the Lekki Conservation Centre represents another important step in the Bank’s sustainability journey. According to her, planting economic trees goes beyond addressing climate change, as it also creates opportunities for long-term community benefits, including improved soil fertility, increased vegetation cover and potential income generation as the trees mature.

Ozomah further emphasised that building a sustainable future requires collective responsibility, noting that staff, partners and other stakeholders all have important roles to play in advancing environmental conservation.

“The power of small actions, when multiplied, creates extraordinary change. As we put these seedlings into the ground, let us commit to nurturing them and, in so doing, nurturing the future we all desire. Together, let us grow a greener, stronger, and more sustainable Nigeria,” she added.

The tree-planting exercise underscores Polaris Bank’s continued support for practical environmental initiatives that contribute to climate resilience, ecological restoration and community development. Through its nationwide tree-planting programme and partnerships with organisations such as the NCF, the Bank continues to encourage collective action towards protecting the environment and building a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Credit Polaris Bank PR