As of March 2025, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) claims that it owes N457 billion for services provided in the Nigerian electrical supply sector (NESI).
TCN’s managing director, Sule Abdulaziz, made this revelation during a workshop on capacity-building for journalists covering the electricity industry in Keffi, Nasarawa state, on Wednesday.
Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, the executive director of the company’s gearbox service provider, reportedly represented Abdulaziz, according to NAN.
The workshop, with the theme “Understanding the Critical Role of TCN in Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” was designed to help journalists who cover the power sector better comprehend the field.
In his remarks, Abdulaziz stated that N240 billion for more recent services given and N217 billion for legacy debt are included in the outstanding debt.
According to him, the TCN saw notable operational gains in spite of its budgetary limitations, including an increase in wheeling capacity to 8,701 megawatts.
Even though significant investments are being made in the gearbox infrastructure, the managing director stated that the industry still faces enduring issues, including vandalism and a lack of funds, which impede attempts to maximise performance.
The head of TCN also emphasised the necessity of increasing funding for the power value chain’s distribution segment, cautioning that any weak link in the industry might jeopardise the delivery of electricity to end customers. “It is imperative that the value chain for energy remain intact. For users to properly get power, its strength needs to be consistent, Abdulaziz stated.
Aminu Tahir, the TCN’s general manager of project coordination, also spoke at the occasion and highlighted the problem of underutilised substations nationwide.
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According to Tahir, a number of recently finished substations are not being utilised as they cannot be connected to transmission lines.
He blamed the delay on ongoing right-of-way problems, which have kept important infrastructure projects from moving forward.
The general manager stated that the TCN has obtained funds from a number of foreign development partners to continue its expansion campaign in spite of the setbacks.
According to him, the partners include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the World Bank.
TCN’s general manager of public relations, Ndidi Mbah, stated that the workshop was a component of the company’s endeavours to bridge the information gap between the media and the organisation.
According to her, the workshop allows reporters to speak with TCN specialists face-to-face and learn about the company’s operations firsthand.
