FG orders investigation as Ikorodu–Sagamu power losses hit N120 billion

The Federal Government has raised the alarm over power losses of up to 100 megawatts (MW) along the 132kV Ikorodu–Sagamu industrial corridor, with the discrepancies costing the electricity market an estimated N120 billion in lost revenue in one year.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, expressed the concern on Friday at a stakeholder meeting with industrial operators, electricity market participants and regulators.

Tegbe directed stakeholders to conduct a transparent, data-driven investigation into the gap between electricity transmitted through the corridor and the volume ultimately billed and accounted for by distribution companies (DisCos).

What the Minister is saying

The investigation follows increased monitoring of the corridor, which has developed into a major industrial manufacturing hub serving large electricity consumers.

• “We must know where the power is going and what is compromising it,” the minister said.
• “Every consumer must be responsible for its actions and consumption,” he added.

According to the Minister, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has deployed technological monitoring tools that have revealed unusual loading patterns and significant discrepancies in energy flows across the network.

He added that the government is seeking to establish whether the losses are linked to meter tampering, deliberate manipulation of consumption data, illegal connections, infrastructure interference or other forms of electricity theft.

Tegbe said the government would not tolerate practices that undermine the electricity market, stressing that consumers must be held accountable for the power they actually use.

The investigation is expected to bring together technical and commercial data from the transmission and distribution segments to determine where the unaccounted electricity is being…