Nigerians are demanding urgent action from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government as the country battles with a worsening power crisis.
The call to revoke the licenses of electricity distribution companies, known as Discos, has intensified amid a dire situation that has plagued citizens for the past three months.
From Lagos to Enugu, Abuja to Kaduna, citizens are facing prolonged blackouts, making daily life unbearable. Despite paying for electricity, consumers rarely receive a consistent supply, highlighting the failure of the power sector since privatization over a decade ago.
With over 92 million Nigerians lacking access to electricity, the country ranks among the lowest globally in electricity provision. Despite having the capacity to generate 22,000 megawatts, Nigeria struggles to produce between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, exacerbating the crisis for its over 200 million population.
“Businesses are worse hit,” remarked the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, reporting losses amounting to N10.1 trillion annually, nearly two percent of the country’s GDP, due to power outages.
While promises and pledges have been made by government officials, including the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to address the crisis, tangible solutions have yet to materialize.
Experts attribute the ongoing debacle to a lack of coherent policies, institutional weaknesses, and a dearth of visionary leadership in the power sector.
“Personalizing the governance of an institution remains the primary issue at stake in the energy sector,” emphasized Wumi Iledare, a Professor Emeritus and Executive Director of Emmanuel Egbogah Foundation. He advocated for full decentralization of the power sector as a viable solution to the crisis.
“Government should carry out a surgical procedural overhaul of the entire regulatory ecosystem,” urged Kunle Olubiyo, President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, calling for a state of emergency in the sector.
Adetayo Adegbemle, Convener and Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, underscored the financial challenges plaguing the sector, emphasizing the need to address liquidity issues and eliminate subsidies that promote inefficiency.
Despite the complexities of the crisis, experts agree that systemic changes, including subsidy removal, targeted investments, and enhanced regulatory oversight, are essential to steer Nigeria’s power sector towards stability and sustainability.