From Collapse to Renewal: A Call for Power Sector Reform: A clarion call to President Tinubu
Yesterday, 23rd January 2026, Nigerians were once again offered an expected but unwanted New Year gift! – The national grid succumbed once again thus throwing the nation and our economy into darkness…
It is hardly surprising that the grid continues to collapse. With inadequate funding, weak oversight and governance, and outdated technologies, such failures are almost inevitable.
President Jonathan’s privatisation effort in the power sector faltered before it even began. While generation and distribution were privatised, the grid itself was inexplicably left under government control. This created a structural imbalance: generation could not expand because the grid lacked the capacity to carry additional output, and distribution companies could not deliver what the grid failed to supply. Sadly, this quagmire has persisted, remaining unresolved from the Buhari years into the Tinubu administration.
Furthermore, distribution was handed to operators without the financial strength, managerial expertise, or technical capacity required. Unsurprisingly, almost all DISCOs are in receivership.
What President Tinubu ought to have done on the very day he pronounced – fuel subsidy is gone! – was to also declare the commitment of his government to transfer the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to private sector operatorship whether through outright sale, joint ventures, or management contracts – alongside announcing the intent to re-privatisation of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
If the President had coupled the above commitments with the transfer of refineries to private sector management, holding security commanders accountable for security failures in their areas of operations or responsibility (315 school children in Niger or 170 villagers in Kaduna state can’t be kidnapped and all the security commanders don’t suffer any consequences), and the release of steel and gas assets to private investors, Nigeria today – nearly three years later – would be in a far stronger position.
Such sectoral reforms alone could have set the country on a path toward double-digit growth rate, single-digit inflation, higher employment, viable infrastructure, and increased government revenues to invest in education, healthcare, and security.
I regret sounding pessimistic, but history offers no example of a nation supplying only 5,000 megawatts of electricity to 200 million people and achieving development. Nigeria has attempted this for 65 years, with catastrophic results.
The time to change the course is now, Mr. President. We beg you!
While the FG holds the lowest hanging-fruits through its installed power assets, the 36 states equally need to harness the provisions of the Electricity Act signed into law by President Tinubu. Transitioning to renewable energy reduces dependence on the national grid since renewable sources such as the sunlight, wind, water, and biomass are abundantly available across Nigeria. These can be tapped to generate and deliver electricity locally via mini and micro grids, without the need for long-distance transmission from generation to distribution on the national grid.
In conclusion, electricity is the lifeblood of any modern-day economy. Yet Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, struggles with just 5,000 megawatts on an unstable grid, while the UAE, with only 12 million people, enjoys 45,000 megawatts. This stark contrast underscores how severely electricity‑poor Nigeria is. Under such conditions, meaningful development remains impossible – no matter how noble the intentions of our leaders.
Nick Agule (nick.agule@yahoo.co.uk) is an energy expert and public affairs analyst
