The Transmission Company of Nigeria on Friday knocked the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company over claims on the nation’s transmission capacity, describing figures cited by the DisCo as inaccurate and outdated.
PHEDC, in a fact file shared on Thursday, explained that Nigeria’s electricity value chain comprises gas suppliers, generation, transmission, distribution, and end users.
It stated that power in the country is generated mainly from thermal plants fired by gas and hydropower plants driven by water.
The DisCo listed major thermal plants such as Transcorp Power, Afam, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Calabar, Geregu, Sapele, Azura, Gbarain, Ibom and Aba IPP, while identifying Kainji, Makurdi, Shiroro, Jebba, Lokoja and Mambilla as major hydropower sources.
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PHEDC added that Nigeria has an installed generation capacity of 13,000MW, transmission wheeling capacity of 7,300MW, and operational capacity of about 4,000MW to 5,000MW, noting that it is entitled to 6.3 per cent of the daily allocation.
The company attributed the nationwide power supply shortfall to gas constraints affecting thermal plants and low water levels at hydro stations.
However, TCN, in a statement issued on Friday by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said it observed with concern the social media post published by PHEDC, which put its transmission wheeling capacity at 7,300MW and operational capacity at between 4,000MW and 5,000MW.
The transmission company said the daily output on the national grid is determined by what distribution companies nominate, what generation companies declare they can generate, and what they can wheel, noting that penalties apply if any of the players fail to meet declared capacities.
“First, it’s important to note that the daily output on the national grid is a function of what the DisCos nominate, what the GenCos declare they can generate, and what TCN declares it can wheel. There is a penalty against any of these three players if they fail to meet what they declared,” the statement read.
TCN queried whether distribution companies nominate power beyond the 4,000MW to 5,000MW range, urging PHEDC to verify its information before making public statements.
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“The question is, ‘Do the DisCos nominate beyond 4,000MW to 5,000MW?’ This is a question for Port Harcourt DisCo to verify before making distracting publications. Every day ahead, the Nigerian Independent System Operator looks at what each player declares and tries to strike a balance, which is what is then generated, transmitted, and distributed,” it added.
Providing updated figures, TCN said its verified transmission wheeling capacity stands at 8,700MW, stressing that the 7,300MW cited by PHEDC was outdated.
“The fact is that 8,700MW is the simulated capacity by the Independent System Operator when it was still part of TCN. Through sustained, capital-intensive infrastructure investments, including transformer installations, substation construction, and transmission line reconductoring, among others, TCN has progressively expanded its wheeling capacity to a verified 8,700MW. This figure is a matter of public record and reflects TCN’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s grid infrastructure. 7,300MW cited by PHEDC is outdated and no longer representative of TCN’s current capacity,” the statement noted.
TCN also said recent sector records contradicted the claim that it could only transmit between 4,000MW and 5,000MW operationally, citing peak generation milestones achieved in the first quarter of 2025.
It listed March 4, 2025, when peak generation reached 5,801.84MW with a maximum daily energy dispatch of 128,370.75MWh; March 2, 2025, when peak generation hit 5,713.60MW with maximum daily energy of 125,542.06MWh; and February 14, 2025, when peak generation stood at 5,543.20MW with maximum daily energy of 125,159.48MWh, noting that all were successfully transmitted to distribution companies.
“These figures, independently documented and publicly verifiable, speak for themselves,” it said.
TCN acknowledged that Nigeria’s electricity value chain—from gas supply through generation, transmission and distribution to end users—is interconnected, urging stakeholders to ensure accuracy when communicating information outside their immediate purview.
“Misinformation, however unintentional, undermines public trust, misrepresents sector progress, and may negatively influence policy conversations and investment decisions,” the statement added.
The company called on stakeholders to verify information before publication and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and the continued growth of Nigeria’s power sector.
