In a decisive move to dismantle long-standing structural bottlenecks in the power sector, the Federal Government has officially inaugurated an 11-member committee to oversee the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO).
The committee, inaugurated at the State House by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, follows a Federal Executive Council approval aimed at transforming Nigeria’s electricity value chain through aggressive infrastructure optimization.
Recovering Stranded Power Assets
A primary objective of the GAMCO initiative is the optimization of underutilized generation assets developed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). The pilot phase will focus on the recovery and efficient transmission of power from three key plants: Omotosho, Olorunsogo, and Ihovbor.
These facilities boast a combined installed capacity of over 1,700MW, yet significant portions of this power remain “stranded” due to technical constraints. The government expects to recover at least 1,600MW of electricity within the next 18–24 months through improved grid management.
The Industrial Corridor Upgrade
To ensure this recovered power reaches consumers, the government has unveiled plans to develop a high-capacity 330kV+ double-circuit transmission corridor along the Benin–Lagos axis.
As the primary evacuation route for Nigeria’s largest industrial hubs in Lagos and Ogun States, the strengthening of this corridor is viewed as a “critical” step in stabilizing the energy environment for commercial investment and large-scale manufacturing.
A Foundation for Innovation
Speaking on the strategic importance of the move, Dr. Kingsley Udeh SAN, representing the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasized that energy security is inseparable from technological progress.
“For us at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, reliable electricity remains a foundational driver of research productivity, industrial innovation, and technological advancement,” Dr. Udeh stated. “The successful operationalisation of GAMCO will help unlock stranded national assets and translate them into reliable megawatts that power industries, laboratories, and digital enterprises.”
Legal and Regulatory Overhaul
Beyond physical infrastructure, the newly formed committee is mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the sector. This includes aligning operations with the Electricity Reform Laws of 2025 to ensure the new institutional reforms are sustainable and attractive to private-sector partnerships.
The establishment of GAMCO marks a pivotal shift in the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, moving away from mere generation toward the efficient management and transmission of existing national resources.
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