{
  "id": 14317781,
  "title": "FG urged to attract UAE funds for power grid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/fg-urged-to-attract-uae-funds-for-power-grid-14317781",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-13T23:32:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/fg-urged-to-attract-uae-funds-for-power-grid/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Energy experts have urged Nigeria's Federal Government to attract funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to bolster the country's electricity infrastructure and improve power supply. This call came after Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, highlighted the nation's commitment to developing infrastructure during his participation in Middle East Energy 2026 in Dubai.\n\nThe UAE has earmarked renewable energy, infrastructure, and digital innovation as key areas for long-term investment and sustainable development in Africa. In August, the UAE's Minister of State, Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, revealed that the country had invested approximately $71.32 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2021 and 2025, with more than $70 billion allocated to renewable and green energy projects.\n\nNational Secretary of the Network for Electricity Consumers Advocacy of Nigeria, Uket Obonga, suggested that Nigeria should seek to attract a portion of these funds, particularly for improving its electricity infrastructure. He estimated that Nigeria could potentially benefit from around $7 billion of the $70 billion investment, stating that such funding could significantly enhance the country's power grid if properly utilized.\n\nObonga emphasized the importance of transparent communication from the government and the Minister of Power, ensuring that Nigerians understand how any funds received from the UAE would be allocated and utilized. He proposed investing in grid network strengthening, expanding infrastructure, and replacing outdated equipment, such as meters and other distribution network components.\n\nMinister of Power Tegbe underscored Nigeria's dedication to building infrastructure necessary for enhancing energy security, stressing that this involves investing not only in physical infrastructure but also in institutions and international cooperation. He noted that storms cannot be forecasted, but energy security has been achieved by those who built grids, pipelines, ports, institutions, and most importantly, trust. Tegbe called for stronger energy systems that require investment in physical infrastructure, institutions, and international cooperation, with Nigeria choosing to build and Africa choosing to build as well.\n\nThe UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, called for increased collaboration among governments, industry, investors, technology companies, and financial institutions. He stressed the significance of investment in electricity interconnectivity to improve energy security and facilitate the more efficient movement of clean energy across borders.\n\nThis development coincides with the UAE's expanding investment and economic engagement with Africa, as highlighted by Al Hajeri. The UAE has been expanding its investments in infrastructure and logistics through DP World, AD Ports Group, and financing from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. These investments aim to improve transport networks, reduce the cost of doing business, expand access to electricity, generate jobs, and promote technology and skills transfer across African countries. Al Hajeri emphasized that the investments are not merely financial but translate into infrastructure that lowers business costs, provides clean power to homes, schools, and businesses, creates new jobs, and facilitates technology and skills transfer for long-term growth.\n\nLastly, Adetayo Adegbemle, Convener of PowerUp, urged the Federal Government to prioritize improvements to the national grid and encourage industrial consumers to return to the electricity network. Adegbemle explained that the grid was designed to transmit substantial electricity over long distances at low costs; however, the departure of heavy electricity users has increased the burden on smaller consumers. He advocated for measures to incentivize manufacturers to return to the grid while addressing the escalating costs of electricity supply.",
  "summary": "Energy experts have urged the Federal Government to attract funding from the United Arab Emirates to strengthen Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure. Read More: https://punchng.com/fg-urged-to-attract-uae-funds-for-power-grid/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FG urged to attract UAE funds for power grid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/fg-urged-to-attract-uae-funds-for-power-grid",
        "published": "2026-10-13T23:24:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}