The Nation Newspaper

Tag: POWER

  • Power: Still a long walk

    Power: Still a long walk

    The Electricity Act 2023 perhaps remains the driving force behind the successes recorded in the power sector in 2025. With a record peak generation of over 6,000 megawatts (MW), improved national grid stability with zero collapses in the first quarter; the successful unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), among others, were very remarkable. While all these and others gives hopes, yet, it is still not El-Dorado, MUYIWA LUCAS writes.

    Going by the record of successes recorded in the power sector, electricity situation in the country may have recorded a pass mark. From Generation to transmission, it has been sweet stories all the way.

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria recorded a transmission peak of 5,801.84 megawatts (MW) on March 4. Managing Director of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, described this as “a historic milestone which occurred during the year” because it remained the highest peak of electricity generation ever delivered on the national grid.

     “A highlight of our progress came on March 4, when TCN transmitted an all-time peak generation of 5,801.84 MW nationwide. On the same day, a maximum daily energy of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh) was delivered across the country—the highest ever recorded in Nigeria’s history,” Abdulaziz disclosed, adding that TCN’s wheeling capability has grown to 8,700MW.

    TCN’s record transmission rode on the back of power generation and grid stability witnessed for most part of the year. For instance, new records for peak power generation throughout the year, were recorded culminating in a 6,003 MW electricity generation recorded on March 2. The average daily generation and distribution in Q1 2025 was approximately 5,700 MW, about 40 per cent increase from Q3 2023 levels.

    The national grid also enjoyed some huge measure of stability in the first half of 2025, with no major system collapses reported in Q1 and Q2 when compared to previous years. Power plants like the 700MW capacity Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower evacuating their capacities into the national grid. Zungeru plant now contributes about 550 MW to the national grid.

    Still, the country’s power system successfully operated in real-time synchronisation with the broader West African regional grid for four uninterrupted hours, a breakthrough for regional power trade.

    The birth of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in April, separated system and market operations from the Transmission Service Provider (TSP), also greatly enhanced efficiency and reliability as mandated by the Electricity Act of 2023. Under the unbundling, the TCN, now acts as Transmission Service Provider (TSP), focusing on building and maintaining the physical transmission grid, while NISO acts as an independent body that manages market operations, generation dispatch and grid security. The unbundling aims for greater operational clarity, transparency, efficiency, and investment attraction in the Nigerian power sector, following mandates from the Electricity Act 2023. And this is paying off. For instance,  as at November 2025, TCN had inaugurated 82 new power transformers, adding over 8,500 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) to the national grid.

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    As provided for in the EA 2023, regulatory oversight roles was successfully transferred to eleven states, allowing sub-national governments greater control over their local electricity markets.

    The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) deployed over 200 mini-grids across underserved communities in 2025 under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP). The $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project was approved to deploy 1,350 mini-grids nationwide, aiming to impact 17.5 million Nigerians.

    Phases 1 and 2 of the Energising Education Programme (EEP) were completed, providing reliable power to federal universities and teaching hospitals, with EEP III reaching 70 per cent completion.

    The tariff reforms, including the cost-reflective tariff for Band A customers, generated an additional N700 billion in revenue, reflecting a 70 per cent increase growing from N1 trillion in 2023 to N1.7 trillion by early 2025. It has also helped to reduce the government’s subsidy shortfall by 35 per cent, decreasing from N3 trillion to N1.9 trillion.

    Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) also recorded some great measure of progress as the federal government secured N700 billion to deploy 1.1 million meters by the end of 2025, aiming to close the national metering gap.

    The National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which set a clear roadmap for a resilient and sustainable power sector, were developed and submitted for approval.

    Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, may well beat his chest for the successes recorded in the power sector in the outgoing year.  But for the consumers on the street, these successes do not reflect in their homes given several reasons. The long hours of darkness they have been clamped into; the hydra-headed problems of securing meters; issues around estimated billings, among others calls for urgent attention. 

    As of October 2025, the electricity metering shortfall in Nigeria was approximately 5.3 million customers, with a national metering rate of 56.07 per cent. The data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) indicates total active registered customers: 12.07 million; total metered customers: 6.77 million and total unmetered customers (shortfall): Approximately 5.3 million. This represents a steady improvement from earlier in 2025, where the deficit was around 5.4 million customers in June and an estimated 6.47 million in March. The government has initiatives, such as the Presidential Metering Initiative and the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, to close the metering gap, with targets to install millions more meters in the coming years.

    Still, the Distribution Companies (DisCos) have been weighed down by aging infrastructure, underinvestment, low revenue collection, largely due to estimated billing, theft, unmetered customers; inadequate tariffs (not cost-reflective), weak enforcement, lack of technical capacity, and poor service delivery, especially where there is a fault or need to replace an equipment.  leading to a liquidity crisis and hindering sector growth.

    Earlier this month, the House of Representatives expressed grave concern over the failure of DisCos to meet their obligations and shortchanging Nigerians 13 years after privatisation of the power sector.

    Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee investigating expenditure in Nigeria’s power sector, Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu and other members expressed concerns at its resumed investigative hearing held in Abuja, during the examination of the activities of Abuja DISCO, Port Harcourt DISCO and Benin DISCO respectively.

    Aliyu said despite privatisation of the power sector which was aimed at providing stable power in the country, Nigerians still grappling with the challenges of power supply.

    He said: “You know  the overall perception of Nigerians is that DISCOs are the major problem, the major setback to the noble initiative of privatizing the power sector.

     “Because most of the DisCos fall in the hands of those that are not truly investors, that are not actually ready to invest, but take advantage of the sector. You know, nobody will agree with you that after 13 years, you could not show one particular deliberate initiative.

     “I have cited an example with Abuja DISCO last time. Abuja DISCO extends up to Kontagora, but their major concentration is in Abuja, because that’s where they can make money.

     “The larger part of Kontagora may be without electricity. They don’t bother. And to be honest, they find it not economically wise, as investors, to waste money extending lines, maybe of 300, 200, 250 kilometers to rural areas, to those other areas that they feel they will not be able to recoup their investment.

     “This is not the intention of the privatization. And this is what is constantly taking us to the major. issue of probe, the issue of establishing the effectiveness or otherwise of the privatization generally. Look at the DisCos on 60% by the investors and 40% by the government.

     “But if I ask you, how much have you returned as a dividend of the 40% back to the government? The answer is nil, because you always pose as those that are investing for charity at last. So these are the key issues. I have said it before we begin this meeting, maybe at the beginning of this meeting, that you know, we have already opened talks with these investors, with the co-investors. That is the co-investors to their DISCOs,”  Aliyu submitted.

    Generally, stakeholders maintained that until the tripod in the sector- Gencos, TCN and Discos are able to get their acts correctly, then the issues may persist.

  • Abuse of power?

    Abuse of power?

    A journalist in Ebonyi State, Godwin Aliuna, landed in hospital late last week after being brutalised by operatives of a state security agency, Neighbourhood Watch, allegedly under instruction by a commissioner in the state government. Aliuna, a correspondent for Daily Asset newspaper, fingered Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Awo Nwobasi, while recounting his ordeal to reporters at a hospital in Abakaliki, the state capital, at the weekend.

    The journalist said he was attacked while covering an event alongside other journalists at the Old Government House in Abakaliki, where the commissioner was attempting to resolve a community leadership dispute. According to him, trouble began when Nwobasi ordered him out of the venue. He said as he made to leave, the commissioner allegedly pushed him onto his way, upon which Neighbourhood Watch operatives seized him and took him away for disciplining. Neighbourhood Watch is an agency under the Internal Security ministry that shares an office block with Border Peace and Conflict Resolution ministry.

    Speaking from hospital bed, Aliuna said: “I was manhandled by Neighbourhood Watch, under the directive and supervision of the commissioner. I hadn’t done anything wrong, I was only reporting on the event.” He further alleged that his phone was confiscated and content deleted. “Before I knew it, they threw me inside their cell and began beating me, hitting my head, eyes and back while trying to restrain me.” He added: “They even threatened to break my legs. I asked what crime I had committed, but they said it was on the commissioner’s orders.” The journalist urged State Governor Francis Nwifuru to call the commissioner to order, he also enjoined rights and civil society groups to intervene and resist alleged attempt to suppress journalists who are the society’s conscience and mouthpiece.

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    Reports said when he was contacted, the commissioner denied ordering the journalist’s rough-handling by Neighbourhood Watch. Hardball also finds it a gap somewhat in Aliuna’s narrative that the commissioner singled him out from among other journalists at the event for the reported ill-treatment, unless there had been a previous encounter that fostered animus which boiled over at last week’s event.

    Still, it was extremely overreaching for Neighbourhood Watch operatives to have acted the way they did, regardless of at whose instance. One of Aliuna’s colleagues was reported pointing out that the law that established the agency empowers it only to apprehend and hand over suspects to the police for investigation as may be necessary. “But today, they have horrible cells in their office where they dump people and continually torture them. Some have stayed months in that place under very awful conditions,” he said, adding: “We were able to rescue Aliuna only because we went as a group of journalists.”

    The fear of many about state control of security – e.g. state police – is how it could be abused. Ebonyi Neighbourhood Watch hasn’t helped to allay that fear.

  • Firms partner on lithium power solutions

    Firms partner on lithium power solutions

    Genus, a power solutions specialist, in collaboration with Simba Industries has introduced its latest range of high-performance solar inverters and lithium-ion battery systems.

    The power solutions will be distributed in the country by Simba Industries. The introduction marks a major step forward in providing reliable, efficient, and future-ready energy solutions for Nigerian homes and businesses.

    Built on years of engineering expertise, the new Genus range combines faster charging, longer battery life, and greater energy efficiency with a compact, modern design. The new series achieves a full charge in just three to four hours, nearly three times faster than traditional alternatives, offering both performance and convenience for today’s power-conscious users.

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    Speaking on the development, Sandeep Sharma, spokesperson for Simba Industries, said: “The new Genus range has been developed to meet the practical needs of Nigerian consumers – delivering dependable performance, durability, and energy savings. These systems are engineered for high load capacity, quick recharge times, and long service life, while also reducing overall operating costs. Together with Simba’s trusted service network, we’re providing a solution that delivers lasting value and reliability.”

    The collaboration between Genus’s technology-driven innovation and Simba Industries’ service and distribution strength reinforces both companies’ shared goal of enabling energy independence through accessible, reliable, and cost-effective power solutions.

  • The power of regional thinking

    The power of regional thinking

    SIR: On October 21, the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa signed an agreement to establish a regional electricity market, pledging to raise N50 billion to expand access to power across their states.

    At the Marrakech Electrification Summit, where the pact was sealed, officials from the three states stood side by side, announcing their plan not only to share costs but to take equity in Future Energies Africa (FEA), the core investor in Kano Electricity Distribution Company. The goal is to fix power distribution from the ground up, together.

    The N50 billion investments might seem modest compared to the billions Nigeria borrows yearly for less coherent projects, but the symbolism matters. For once, three governors are not waiting for Abuja’s permission to act. They’re choosing self-help over dependency, efficiency over rhetoric.

    They’re also making a bet on the Electricity Act 2023, which devolves power generation and distribution to states.

    For all the promise of this northern initiative, the real tragedy is how rare such cooperation has become. Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones — Northwest, Northeast, North-central, Southwest, Southeast, and South-south — rarely collaborate on anything meaningful.

    Imagine if states across Nigeria pooled resources to tackle problems regionally: Southeast states could jointly revive the Enugu coal belt or set up shared logistics hubs for Aba and Onitsha. Southwest states could jointly manage the Lagos-Ibadan corridor’s transport and industrial ecosystem. North-central states could form agricultural processing zones powered by renewable energy.

    Each zone has comparative advantages. What’s missing is collective will.

    Of course, cooperation isn’t magic. The Kano-Katsina-Jigawa alliance faces real challenges. The sum, N50 billion is small compared to what’s needed to transform energy access. Political continuity is fragile — one election cycle can derail years of planning. The federal transmission grid still sits under Abuja’s control, requiring alignment that often slows things down.

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    But the alternative of each state acting alone is far worse. As things stand, most state-owned initiatives collapse before they scale. A joint regional framework can attract better financing, and spread innovation faster.

    If northern states can make this model work, they could provide a template for others. It would show that Nigeria doesn’t need more states; it needs smarter states.

    We already have lessons on what happens when Nigerian leaders collaborate across borders. When Chief Awolowo’s Western Region shared agricultural strategies with the North in the 1950s, both regions grew. When the River Basin Authorities in the 1970s worked jointly across state lines, irrigation and food production improved before corruption and politics ruined the system.

    The lesson endures: development thrives when leadership looks beyond state boundaries.

    Today, it’s time for governors to rediscover that old spirit of partnership. Let them form regional councils not for press releases, but for projects. Let them share expertise and markets.

    • Tosin Adeoti, contact@tosinadeoti.com.
  • The crunch

    The crunch

    • The power sector nears a make-or-break juncture

    A “war” just broke out in the power sector.  It’s either generation companies (GenCos) embrace operational efficiency or be yanked off the national grid. 

    The GenCos, however, in clear greed for a fight, have asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the power sector regulator, to bring it on! 

    But a third “front” peeps, even as mutual “hostilities” roar — a third front on the stock exchange, that could well unlock the capital that could make power sector purr and hum, which in turn could make all the bickering go away! 

    Sure, it could be an utterly new operational culture: away from the suspect power sector privatisation, vide the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (EPSRA), which the Electricity Act 2023 has repealed, by further liberalising the sector.  Indeed, the capital market holds the promises for sustainable redemption, other things being equal.

    So, what will it be?

    The drama started with an order: NERC/2025/094, effective September 1, which directed that all GenCos, by November 30, must instal Free Governor Controls (FGCs) across their generating units.  These are devices that automatically pace the turbines, easing them to the velocity of power generation, thus averting the incessant collapse of the national grid.

    The NERC had recalled that the national grid, in 2024, recorded five full system failures, aside three partial system failures, all of which it blamed on the alleged GenCo shambolic attitude to turbine monitoring and control.  It reasoned FGCs should help to boost operational control, make the GenCos more efficient and effective, and help to generate much value, along the electricity value chain.

    “Any GenCo that fails to comply with the provisions of Sections 12.6.2 and 15.8.3 of the Grid Code on the integration and activation of FGC on all generating units by 30 November 2025,” the NERC order warned, “shall be liable to a penalty of a prorated 10 per cent of the invoice associated with the defaulting generating unit for the duration during which it was not operated with its FGC activated — that is, FGC non-compliant.”

    But that’s only the first penalty phase.  The second phase is more drastic, as offending GenCos face being yanked off the national grid. 

    Again, as per the NERC memo: “Where a generating unit records 90 consecutive days of FGC non-compliance, the affected generating unit shall be disconnected from the national grid.  Reconnection can only occur,” the order added, “after NISO [the Nigerian Independent System Operator] has certified the unit as fully compliant with the requirements of the Grid Code.”

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    However, a section of the GenCos appears unfazed by it all, as they told NERC to make good its threat.  ‘The Punch’ quoted Joy Ogaji, CEO of the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC), to have retorted: “Then, no comment.  We wait for the implications.  We wait for them to disconnect us.  They should disconnect us today.”

    Aside Mrs. Ogaji, another unnamed voice, also responding to another question by ‘The Punch’, sounded no less daring as he alleged: “The sector is using GenCos to stabilise the grid.  Egbin has lost two units to this.  Let them just disconnect us.  Once we are disconnected, there will be no more debts.  GenCos are suffocating already.”

    The APGC lobby also alleged selective application of the rules.  While GenCos, they alleged, seemed over-watched, the NERC has left the transmission section to pretty much do whatever it likes: “Check the commission website and tell me one regulation implemented since 2017, except against GenCos.  GenCos are the most compliant,” it claimed.  “This threat of disconnection is actually what we want now.”

    Whatever the dissonance between NERC and GenCos, both sides should sit across the table to iron them out.  The power sector, though becoming stabler in some areas, is still too fragile to withstand an industry civil war, without something terrible giving in the economy; and even in Nigeria’s delicate social landscape.

    Besides, if GenCos are daring the industry regulator to do its worst, claiming NERC sanctions would at least save them from further debts, it would appear clearly logical that the real crisis might be the insecurity of GenCos’ revenue stream.  By the way, it’s no use for anyone to cut their noses to spite their faces. Even if sanctions hold the “prospects” of easing debts, how does a shut down, no matter how fleeting or temporary, help the long-term health of the offending GenCo, and the industry at large?  That is why all must jaw-jaw, not war-war.

    Still, even with the allegation of lack of regulation fairness toward GenCos in comparison to other industry players (which must be looked into), installing FGCs makes eminent sense.  Everyone gains by a more efficient and effective power industry — the supply: generation, transmission and distribution; and the demand: corporates, public and private, and households.  No one benefits from a yo-yo national grid, that buckles at the touch of the breeze. 

    So, rather than scowl at sanctions — which we believe must have been a last resort, following a pretty much shambolic culture among GenCos — all the industry players should view the new development as a win-win.  If it succeeds — and there is no reason it would not — the power sector would be the winner.

    Still, there is the little question of revenue security.  If GenCos seek pseudo-comfort in not acquiring more debts — though, that might be sarcasm brewed from ire — then the root might be the difficulty they face in getting money due to them from the distribution companies (DisCos).  That reality forced many latter-day ventures to explore the multi-shop approach, that grafts generation, transmission and distribution.  Still, there is a lot yet to sell in the division of labour that shaped the present structure.

    It’s that secure revenue and more enhanced value across the entire chain, that must have shaped the thinking, by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to, for a start, take one GenCo and two DisCos, to the stock market — as sample experiments.

    It’s a re-privatisation of a sort: with the federal and state governments offloading their 30 per cent (GenCo) and 40 per cent (DisCo) stakes on the investing public.  By that, the GenCo and DisCos would be fully privatised companies, with both transiting from half-utilities to full-blown private sector companies. 

    The Labour centres and advocates of a “mixed economy” might first kick against such moves but the thinking has great prospects of recapitalising these companies; and freeing the government of sectoral guarantees — and even subsidies — as the ventures would be free to shop for own capital, fully propelled by own boards and management, independent of any foreign control, bar NERC regulatory duties.

    Just imagine — as this newspaper has always advocated — these firms generating enough capital to meter everyone and close the huge metering gap, put at between 7.2 million and 7.4 million!  That major investment alone would stand players in good stead to promptly collect their bills.  Were that to happen, there would be less cases of DisCos not paying for power that GenCos supply them; and GenCos too, not meeting their liability commitments, aside investing in FGCs as NERC just directed.

    Of course, the requisite authorities must have built in processes and protocols that ensure fair pricing.  Besides, public sector power guzzlers, including the security agencies pretty notorious for defaulting in payment for power consumption, would know they now deal with strictly private enterprises, where cold pre-paid maters do all the talking.  That would further ensure the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system that Wale Edun, the finance and economic coordination minister, just broached.

    After eons of operating a neither-nor system, neither public nor entirely private, perhaps this might be the crunch to straighten the power sector, once and for all.  With value enhanced all-round, there could well be less cause for NERC to issue ultimatums to GenCos; or for DisCos failing to promptly collect their revenues because of the huge metering gap.

  • Remaking the fragile politics of traditional power

    Remaking the fragile politics of traditional power

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    Sir: The flare-up over conferment of traditional title has cooled, but its resonance remains. Not because the quarrel between the Ooni of Ife and voices in Oyo was unprecedented, but because it exposed a larger truth: in today’s Nigeria, thrones do not merely honour tradition; they contest power, shape identity, and strain the boundaries of democracy.

    Across Nigeria, royal thrones are more than ornate relics. They are living institutions, simultaneously revered and contested, woven into governance, identity, and politics. When they clash, the tremors ripple far beyond the palace walls.

    Royal rumbles in Nigeria are not simply about personality clashes; they are the aftershocks of colonial rewiring that never healed. Indirect rule froze fluid precolonial systems into rigid hierarchies, privileging some thrones while shrinking others and the resentments endure.

    Over time, executive instrumentalisation deepened the fault lines: state governors now hold the purse strings and the power of recognition, so that crowns rise or fall with political patronage.

    Add to this the marketisation of prestige, where chieftaincy titles double as fundraising and lobbying tools, and rivalry becomes less about heritage than scarcity and status.

    The law, instead of calming these waters, muddies them further: customary norms, state statutes, and court precedents overlap, inviting contradiction and forum shopping.

    And in today’s media age, what once remained within palace conclaves now trends on TikTok, magnifying minor slights into national spectacle.

    Sceptics might dismiss these palace clashes as mere ceremonial theatre. Yet their impact is tangible and far-reaching. Communities fracture as rival allegiances pit youth against elders, and local identities splinter along palace lines.

    Political opportunists exploit these divisions, co-opting traditional authority to amplify their own power while weakening collective voices. Public trust erodes when monarchs trade insults in tabloids or on social media, diminishing the sacred aura that once commanded respect across generations.

    Governance itself suffers: in Kano, Zazzau, and Ibadan, drawn-out legal battles over thrones consumed energy and attention that could have fuelled development; in the Middle Belt, weakened traditional mediation exacerbates farmer–herder conflicts, prolonging disputes that might otherwise have been resolved peacefully.

    Across the country, the ripple effects indicate these are not trivial quarrels behind palace walls, but disputes that touch civic cohesion, political stability, and social harmony.

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    Yet, traditional institutions remain critical soft power for a state whose legitimacy is often fragile. Weakening them is not just symbolic; it is destabilizing.

    Resolutions of these palace disputes are often superficial. Conflicts are suppressed through executive fiat, contained with stipends, swapped titles, or other face-saving measures, and sometimes eased through quiet bargains like new council seats, ritual concessions, or symbolic gestures.

    Each approach buys temporary calm but rarely addresses the underlying rivalries, leaving disputes poised to resurface under new political winds or succession shifts.

    These settle individuals, not institutions. And when governors, courts, or heirs change, the conflicts resurface.

    If rivalries are national, remedies must be systemic. Nigeria does not need fewer crowns; it needs clearer covenants. A National Atlas of Customary Authority could record every stool, its succession rules, kingmakers, jurisdiction, and precedents, creating memory infrastructure to prevent opportunistic rewrites.

    Harmonized state laws would set transparent standards for succession, published kingmakers’ votes, and narrow, reviewable grounds for executive overrides.

    A Standing Mediation Collegium—senior monarchs empowered to intervene early—would issue guidance that governors must publicly accept or reject, letting sunlight discipline process.

    Funding should be depoliticized, with stipends on predictable statutory transfers linked to peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation, while professional palace secretariats handle administration.

    Title conferment protocols would require notification of counterpart councils, registry in the atlas, and publication of grounds, with sanctions for repeated breaches.

    Ultimately, prestige should be measured by civic service—conflicts mediated, apprenticeships created, heritage preserved, rather than by origin myths alone.

    The Alaafin–Ooni episode was today’s weather. The climate is a century of unsettled rewiring   from Kano to Warri, Ibadan to Benin.

    Nigeria must stop treating each clash as fresh scandal and start building durable systems—memory, law, and mediation—that outlast personalities.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,

    lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

  • Power without power

    Power without power

    • Whatever power state govts have on power sector is useless if tariffs are still centrally determined.

    IF there is anything that could pass for a good problem, it is the brouhaha sparked by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (EERC) decision to tamper with the extant tariff regime for Band A electricity customers in Enugu State. EERC has decided to review the tariff for the affected customers from N209.5 per kilowatt-hour to N160/kWh. This would have taken effect from August 1, but for the dampener from the sector’s regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) which said state governments do not have the right to determine power tariffs in so far as they still get power from the so-called national grid.

    Band A customers receive at least 20 hours or more of power supply daily and pay N209.5/kWh.

    The journey to the increased tariff actually started in April 2024 when NERC approved a steep tariff hike for ‘Band A’ electricity consumers, from N68/kWh to N225/kWh. This was later revised to N206.8 and again to N209.5/kWh.

    Band B: minimum 16 hours of electricity supply per day (N63/kwh), Band C: 12 hours (54/kwh), Band D: eight hours (N48/kwh) and Band E: four hours (N43/kwh).

    Power consumers in Band A decried the over 200 per cent hike then to no avail. Even the rich cried and have been crying that the difference of about four hours of power supply daily could not have justified the huge disparity in the tariffs paid by Bands A and B power consumers, respectively.

    This was the situation until July 20 when EERC announced that it had reduced the Band A tariff in the state from N209/kWh to N160/kWh, while keeping tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E frozen. The commission then issued a new tariff order to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, its new subsidiary to this effect.

    According to the Order No. EERC/2025/003, the move was deemed cost-reflective, adding that the tariff must reflect the power generation subsidy by the Federal Government.

    EERC Chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo, explained in an interview with AIT on July 21 that “We have put out regulations that would guide the development of our own state-specific electricity market. One of our regulations happens to be the Tariff Methodology Regulation of 2024.

    “This work on tariff review started over six months ago when we assumed full regulatory oversight over our electricity space in Enugu State. And following that, we have since issued a number of regulations to guide the development of our own state-specific electricity market, including the Tariff Methodology Regulation of 2024,” he said.

    Expectedly, all the stakeholders in the power sector cried foul. The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies (GenCos) Joy Ogaji, said that EERC had set a dangerous precedent for other state electricity companies to follow despite the fact that its action did not reflect the true cost of electricity generation.

    Ogaji said “It is imperative to state that there is no FGN policy on subsidies. It is a debt accumulation,” she stated, warning ”that the N45 per kWh being covered leaves a 60 per cent cost gap that EERC assumed would be filled by the Federal Government, despite no official or cash-backed subsidies in place.

    Enugu State is the first state to come up with this type of decision.

    At this juncture it is appropriate to point out that EERC and indeed other state governments that are now trying to assert themselves in the power equation derive their power from the signing into law of some 16 amendments to the constitution by then President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. The good news came via a tweet by the presidential media spokesperson, Tolu Ogunlesi.

     “Another landmark change: By virtue of the presidential assent, Nigerian states can now generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid. (This) wasn’t allowed pre-amendment. This is genuine, realistic restructuring — through the constitution.”

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    Expectedly, too, some other states have said they would review the tariff regime, especially for Band A customers. Inasmuch as all the states in the country now have the power to generate and distribute electricity, at least seven states, according to the NERC now control their electricity markets in accordance with the Electricity Act 2023.

    As we speak, some of the states are beginning to indicate their desire to also reduce the tariffs. These include Plateau State Electricity Commission. The chairman of the commission, Bagudu Hirse, said “We are working towards making life better for the citizens of Plateau State, and we will bring down the electricity tariff for our people. Take it from me, as soon as we resume, that will be our focus,” Hirse stated.

    On its part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said Lagos was studying the tariff plan and that it would announce its own soon. “We are studying what they (EERC) have released. We are looking at the number, and we are going to make some pronouncements shortly”.

    Also, the Ondo State Government said it would soon reduce electricity tariffs like Enugu State. The state commissioner for energy and mineral resources, Johnson Alabi, said “We are the first in all ramifications to carry out this kind of thing; others are only learning from us. What is happening in Enugu is already happening here. The only thing is that we have not spoken to the media about what we are doing…

    “Once we sign our power purchase agreement, we will determine what the tariff will be. We will determine it by ourselves. We are already determining tariffs for some would-be investors who are here because we are buying our energy ourselves, which is strange for any state so far. It is only in those states that have initiated electricity market operation whereby we purchase our power directly from the Transmission Company of Nigeria.”

    I want to see the new development spawned by EERC’s tariff review for Band A downward as a good problem because this would probably be the first time that DisCos are having the heat really turned on them. And that is part of the beauty of liberalisation. All over the world, the customer is said to be king. Not in Nigeria; specifically not with the DisCos. They have always served as the accuser, the policeman and judge in matters affecting them and their customers.

    There is no doubt that EERC may be wrong in its assumptions about what should constitute the real elements of the Band A billing. Just as there is also no doubt that other states that may carry out similar reviews may also not be entirely right. But the undeniable fact too is that the DisCos have been generally a bundle of disappointment as far as many Nigerians are concerned. We do not have any cause not to doubt too that the so-called Band A tariff is not overpriced.

    As a matter of fact, even the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, saw this ambiguity and announced government’s intention to regularise it sometime ago. Apparently this has not been possible because of threats from Labour and perhaps other pressure groups.

    But my advice to the state governments and other serious-minded entities that may want to take advantage of this Buhari law on power is that they should find every possible way to boycott particularly the DisCos because that is the only way this country can break from the shackles of darkness. Our experience with them has shown that they cannot take us anywhere. 

    Indeed, I am not surprised that they are already vehemently opposing EERC’s idea. It could not have been otherwise for DisCos that have been spoon-fed ever since their so-called privatisation by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2013.

    These are mostly entities that lacked both the technical and financial capacities but were just handed over the organisations on ‘paddy-paddy’ basis. And everybody seems to be saying this, yet, successive governments seem comfy with tolerating them at the expense of Nigerians.

    Ever since I was born, we never bought electricity meters in Nigeria until the DisCos came. Now you buy meters that you cannot take away from one location to the other when you are changing apartments (because it is not all the time that landlords pay for these meters).  A tenant that pays for his meter forfeits that meter when changing apartment. In fact,  the whole arrangement is just ridiculous. These are entities that know little or nothing about good corporate governance. I doubt if what the NERC is now saying was what Buhari had in mind when he further liberalised the sector by granting the state governments the autonomy to generate and distribute power.

    Pricing has remained contentious in the power equation for decades. That is why any independence given the state governments to take charge of power supply in their respective domains is useless if they cannot determine the tariff. Only those who handed us the current tariffs know the basis of their computation. The suspicion of most Nigerians is that we are paying for every affliction that the DisCos in particular suffer from — corruption, inefficiency, incompetence and what have you.

    But, why did we get this far before the state regulatory agencies are realising that they cannot fix tariff? Did they not go through the deals they signed with the NERC before they got their licences?

    Anyway, we should first drive away the thief before chastising the owner of the stolen property that he too did not keep his property well.

    With this depressing development from NERC what the situation calls for is for the state governments to look well into the agreements that they signed while they were being handed their independence and see if there is a way they could challenge the NERC’s position in court.

    At any rate, NERC could even be right by law; but that legal position cannot take the country anywhere, especially if we are truly desirous of achieving the $200bn economy by 2030.

    Alternatively, the state governments should put on their thinking caps and begin to look for ways to bypass the DisCos by having entities that can compete with them, however they do that.

    Even the minister said in February that ”They (DisCos) have refused to invest in this sector. Fine, it can be explained in a way…” I don’t know what can be explained in any way beyond the fact that the companies got their licences on a platter, with Nigerians now being forced to subsidise their operations. Rather than go to bank to source for funds, they extort all manner of charges from customers only to start repaying with electricity units in cases where the customers have a voice. Only God knows how many voiceless Nigerians the DisCos have got their money under false pretense.

    I have always said it; that Nigerians do not have to die for DisCos to live. This is what successive governments have been doing pampering them. It should not continue under our Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Whatever independence the state governments have on power supply is meaningless if they cannot determine tariff. If these DisCos are the ones to take us to the promised land, it would’ve been so evident in the last 12 years.

  • How strategic reforms are energising the power sector

    How strategic reforms are energising the power sector

    After years of stagnation and broken promises, Nigeria’s power sector is showing new momentum under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Strategic investments, improved governance and a clear reform roadmap signal a shift toward sustainable energy delivery, aiming to break the cycle of inefficiency and finally bring consistent, affordable electricity to millions across the country, writes BOLAJI OGUNDELE

    For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has been a source of frustration for homes and businesses alike, often criticised for inefficiency, erratic supply and unfair billing practices. The notorious estimated billing system, which charges consumers for electricity they rarely receive, has further eroded public trust. Successive governments have struggled to implement lasting solutions, resulting in a cycle of unmet promises and persistent challenges.

    However, since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the launch of his Renewed Hope Agenda, the power sector has witnessed a more focused, reform-driven approach aimed at delivering sustainable, equitable, and improved electricity services. Between May 2023 and May 2025, the first two years of the Tinubu administration, the Federal Ministry of Power has spearheaded key reforms designed to revitalise the sector. While power supply remains inconsistent, there are clear signs of progress. The government’s commitment to expanding infrastructure, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and encouraging private sector participation has begun to translate into tangible improvements.

    A primary focus has been boosting generation and transmission capacity—long-standing bottlenecks in Nigeria’s electricity supply chain. Historically, Nigeria’s power generation capacity has been hampered by inadequate transmission and distribution systems, preventing reliable delivery to end-users. To close this gap, the administration set an ambitious goal to increase transmission capacity by 6,000 megawatts (MW). This target is gradually becoming a reality. By July 27, 2024, Nigeria’s power sector achieved a milestone, generating and transmitting 5,105MW—the highest output in three years and a notable increase from the sub-4,000MW average recorded in 2023. This success is the result of strategic capital investments and robust public-private partnerships.

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    For instance, the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) Power Company contributed an additional 100.8MW, while 1,338.8MW of transmission capacity was added through new substations and upgrades. Three new 330kV power substations in Kano and Sagamu were commissioned, with another near completion in Obajana. Additionally, 65 kilometres of 330kV transmission lines were completed, and 19 new transformers deployed, collectively enhancing grid stability and efficiency. Though challenges remain, these efforts mark a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s power sector, inspiring optimism for a future with more reliable and affordable electricity for all Nigerians.

    The Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) has emerged as a cornerstone in Nigeria’s ongoing power sector transformation, effectively mobilizing both international and local investments to tackle the country’s chronic electricity challenges. Under this initiative, a series of landmark infrastructure projects have been commissioned, significantly enhancing the nation’s transmission and distribution capacity. Notable among these projects are the newly established 63MVA substations in Oyo and Ogun States, which bolster regional power delivery in southwestern Nigeria. Additional substations have been brought online in strategic locations such as Okene, Amukpe, Potiskum, Apo, and Ihovbor, each designed to address long-standing supply bottlenecks. In Lagos, critical upgrades have been executed, including the commissioning of a 100MVA transformer at Maryland and a 60MVA unit at Ajah, areas known for their dense population and heavy electricity demand. Further underscoring this regional reinforcement strategy was the recent energisation of 63MVA mobile substations in Jebba, Kwara State, and Kwanar Dangora, which serve as flexible assets to stabilize and strengthen regional transmission hubs.

    However, the Tinubu administration’s approach extends well beyond physical infrastructure. A critical component of the power sector reform involves governance and institutional restructuring. Central to this effort is the ongoing unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into two separate entities: a Transmission Service Provider (TSP) and an Independent System Operator (ISO). This restructuring aims to grant greater operational autonomy, enhance grid management, and stimulate competition within the electricity market. Supporting this transition, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is actively licensing the Nigerian Independent System Operator Limited, a move expected to bring increased transparency and efficiency to the sector.

    One of the most persistent issues undermining consumer confidence in Nigeria’s power sector is the prevalence of billing irregularities, particularly the widespread practice of estimated billing. For years, many Nigerians have paid for electricity they never actually consumed. Addressing this, the Renewed Hope Agenda explicitly targets the eradication of estimated billing. In 2024, efforts were intensified through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, which set an ambitious goal to install 10 million electricity meters over five years. That same year, a total of 129,299 meters were installed nationwide, while 233,616 meters underwent rigorous testing—with an impressive 99.98% passing certification.

    To ensure accuracy and consumer protection, the government is also developing state-of-the-art national meter test stations. Facilities in Kano and Benin City are nearing completion, and efforts to obtain ISO 17025:2017 accreditation for these centers are underway. This certification will set a new benchmark for meter testing and quality assurance in Nigeria. Recognising the importance of sustainability and local capacity, the government is actively supporting domestic meter manufacturing through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and PMI. Incentives are being structured to empower local companies such as Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd., Nigeria’s foremost original equipment manufacturer based in Ogun State. This initiative not only ensures a steady and reliable supply of meters but also promotes industrial growth and reduces reliance on imports, aligning with broader economic development goals. Together, these strategic investments in infrastructure, governance, consumer protection, and local industry represent a comprehensive approach to resolving Nigeria’s electricity challenges and moving the sector towards a more reliable and equitable future.

    Rural electrification stands as a vital pillar of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, addressing a long-neglected challenge that has left millions of Nigerians in underserved communities without reliable access to electricity. For decades, rural areas have borne the brunt of Nigeria’s uneven power distribution, limiting socioeconomic development and perpetuating cycles of poverty. Recognizing this, the Federal Ministry of Power has, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), significantly scaled up the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) in partnership with the World Bank, achieving remarkable progress.

    By 2025, the NEP had successfully extended electricity access to over 7 million Nigerians, delivered through 173 mini-grids and more than 1.2 million solar home systems. This achievement marks a turning point, demonstrating that decentralized power solutions can bring affordable, clean, and reliable energy to communities previously ignored by the national grid. These efforts are not only illuminating homes but also transforming livelihoods, enabling economic activities that were previously impossible due to lack of electricity. Beyond residential electrification, critical institutions are benefiting from targeted interventions. Solar hybrid captive power plants with a combined capacity of 32MW have been deployed to eight universities and two teaching hospitals across the country. These installations guarantee uninterrupted power supply for education and healthcare—two sectors that underpin national development. Reliable electricity in universities enhances academic delivery, research capacity, and student welfare, while consistent power in teaching hospitals is critical for patient care and medical procedures, many of which depend on electricity-powered equipment.

    Complementing these efforts are two strategic initiatives: the Energising Education Programme and the Energising Economies Initiative. The former aims to provide dependable electricity to 37 universities and teaching hospitals, reinforcing the country’s commitment to nurturing intellectual capital. The latter focuses on over 400,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), recognizing that reliable power is essential to microeconomic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation. By supporting both educational institutions and entrepreneurial ventures, the government is laying the foundation for broad-based and inclusive economic development.

    To anchor these reforms in a coherent policy framework, the Ministry of Power has developed the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and the National Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP). Crafted in collaboration with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), these documents provide a unified blueprint for universal electrification, sustainable energy planning, and robust private sector participation. The NIEP particularly outlines clear targets and guidelines aimed at achieving a more equitable and efficient power sector.

    In line with global energy transition trends and Nigeria’s climate commitments, renewable energy has become central to national power strategy. The Nigeria Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) sets an ambitious target of achieving 10% renewable energy contribution to the country’s total energy consumption by 2025. By the fourth quarter of 2024, renewable sources had contributed 37.643MW to the grid, signaling steady progress. More importantly, the sector has attracted over $2 billion in investments from both public and private stakeholders, fuelling growth in solar, wind, biomass technologies, as well as advances in battery storage and solar panel manufacturing.

    This comprehensive renewable push is balanced by pragmatic energy planning, with natural gas playing a crucial transitional role under the Nigeria First Power Policy. The policy prioritizes domestic gas utilization to ensure reliable and cleaner local power generation, bridging the gap while renewables scale up. Quality assurance and technical compliance underpin the entire reform agenda. Between August 2023 and April 2025, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) inspected 3,476 electrical installations and power projects nationwide. While 2,146 installations met certification standards, 1,330 failed to comply, highlighting ongoing challenges but also the government’s commitment to enforcing high standards. To improve responsiveness, NEMSA has expanded its presence closer to communities, shortening turnaround times for inspections and certifications and ensuring safer, more reliable electrical infrastructure. Together, these efforts reflect a holistic and determined approach to Nigeria’s power challenges, promising a future where reliable electricity is no longer a privilege of the few but a right accessible to all Nigerians—rural and urban alike.

    The Tinubu administration has mobilised around $7 billion to revamp Nigeria’s entire electricity value chain. This investment spans grid expansion, meter data management systems, and renewable energy deployment. More than just infrastructure spending, these funds underscore a commitment to sustainability, improved governance, and strategic long-term planning. Stakeholder engagement has become a central pillar of the reform process. The Ministry of Power now holds quarterly forums that bring together citizens, power sector operators, and investors. These gatherings provide vital platforms to update the public on reforms and gather feedback that shapes policy refinement, fostering transparency and inclusiveness. Together, these efforts form a comprehensive, multi-pronged reform strategy. Challenges persist—including transmission bottlenecks, legacy debts, and inconsistent gas supply—but the administration’s approach stands out for its clear vision and purposeful execution.

    At the core of the Renewed Hope Agenda is an evidence-based, performance-driven plan with clearly defined targets: increasing generation and transmission capacity to 6,000MW; eliminating estimated billing; installing 10 million meters; expanding rural electrification; developing renewable energy; reforming governance structures; and prioritising domestic resource utilization. Many of these targets have already transitioned from policy frameworks to tangible on-ground progress. However, the ultimate measure of success will be the everyday experiences of Nigerians. Reliable, affordable electricity in homes and businesses—not just megawatts added or substations commissioned—will define public satisfaction. Recognizing this, the government is enhancing communication channels to share success stories beyond official reports, making reform relatable and real for ordinary citizens. Power sector reform has historically been slow and fraught with setbacks. Yet, under President Tinubu’s leadership, a pragmatic, data-driven, and accountable approach is taking hold. As the administration moves forward, the foundation is set to transform Nigeria’s power landscape—bringing sustained light to millions who have long lived in darkness.

  • Power, privilege and governance

    Power, privilege and governance

    The concepts of power, privilege and governance are complex and multifaceted. Power refers to the ability to influence others, while privilege denotes unearned advantages. Governance encompasses institutions, structures and processes that regulate these dynamics. Together, these concepts raise fundamental questions about justice, equality and resource distribution. It emphasizes the importance of considering marginalized groups’ experiences and perspectives.

    The main problem in Nigeria today is its political economy, which is rooted in rent-seeking and fosters a mindset that prioritizes patronage over production. The country’s politics are characterized by a patron-client relationship, where everything revolves around government handouts rather than effective governance. This has led to a situation where “politics” in Nigeria is essentially a scramble for resources in a country with severely limited opportunities for self-improvement.

    When French agronomist René Dumont wrote ‘False Starts in Africa’ in 1962, he inadvertently described Nigeria’s current state in 2025. Nigeria’s missteps have magnified themselves in the theatre of the absurd, such as the construction of a new vice presidential residence and Governor Chukwuemeka Soludo’s boasts about the lavish official residence for the governor of Anambra State, currently under construction. It is to be noted in contradistinction that the newly sworn-in Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, is looking for somewhere to live. The official residence of the prime minister, 24 Sussex Drive, the Canadian equivalent of 10 Downing Street, is in disrepair and uninhabitable. No Canadian government can dare ask the parliament to appropriate the $40m needed to refurbish the residence.

    Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeds $2 trillion, while Nigeria’s GDP is less than $400 billion. Still, Nigeria claims to be a giant! With an electricity generation capacity of less than 6,000 megawatts, Nigeria’s proclamation seems absurd, especially when compared to cities like Johannesburg, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai. Even Lagos State alone should be generating, transmitting and distributing at least 15,000 megawatts, which would be a basic expectation rather than an achievement.

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    Nigeria today needs a comprehensive overhaul of its governance crisis to build a new political economy and social services that are fit for purpose. Although the government is on the right path in some ways, a root-and-branch transformation is still necessary. A notable breakthrough is the decision to recapitalize development finance institutions, such as the Bank of Industry and, crucially, the Bank of Agriculture. This move is significant in a rent-seeking state, as it addresses the need for long-term capital – a prerequisite for achieving meaningful progress.

    The development finance institutions require annual recapitalization of at least N500 billion, ideally N1 trillion. Achieving this necessitates a thorough cost evaluation of the government’s machinery, starting with the full implementation of the Oronsaye Committee’s recommendations. The resulting cost savings can then be redirected to development finance institutions and essential social services like primary healthcare. Furthermore, the government should be bolder, if it can afford to be so, especially since there’s no discernible opposition on offer

    At the moment, the Nigerian political establishment across the board appears to be enamored by the position put forward by the leader of the Russian revolution, Vladimir Lenin, after the failed putsch. Lenin wrote the classic, ‘What is to be done?’ His observation is that revolutions do not take place at times of grinding poverty. They do so during periods of relatively rising prosperity.

    Significant sections of the Nigerian establishment believe that relatively rising prosperity could trigger off social discontent. In their own interest, they had better be right. The caveat is that Lenin wrote ‘What’s to be Done’ in 1905. The world has moved on and changed since the conditions that led to the failure of the attempted takeover of government in Russia in 1905. Therefore, the Nigerian political establishment, for reasons of self-preservation, had better put on its thinking cap Addressing power and privilege in governance requires collective action, institutional reforms and a commitment to promoting social justice.

    Nigeria currently lacks a leadership recruitment process, which can only be established if political parties are willing to develop a cadre. Unfortunately, the country is dealing with Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) instead. It’s rare to find leadership in Nigeria operating political boot camps to recruit and groom youths for future leadership roles. This might be why many young people have a misguided understanding of politics, viewing it as merely a means of sharing the nation’s commonwealth.

    Mhairi Black was elected to the British House of Commons at 20 years old. However, the key point is that Black had started becoming involved in politics at a young age. By the time she was elected, she had already gained significant experience, effectively becoming a veteran in the field. In Nigeria, politics is often seen as one of the few avenues for self-fulfillment. However, the economy is stagnant, with few jobs created in the public sector and limited investment opportunities. This is a far cry from the 1950s and 1960s, when political parties were more substantial. Today, it’s worth asking how many Nigerian political parties have functional Research Departments.

    Besides, what socialization into any philosophy or ideology do our politicians have? Similarly to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, many of those who currently hold power are motivated to stay in politics due to concerns about economic stability. Of course, that’s why the Lagos State House of Assembly has had to revert itself. It is the same challenge that has reduced the traditional institution to victims of Nigeria’s ever-changing political temperature. It is the reason an Ogbomoso indigene is not interested in what happened between Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola. It is also the reason an Ijebuman sees an Ogbomoso man as his enemy without bothering to dig up the bitter politics that ultimately succeeded in putting the two families on the path of permanent acrimony. Of course, that’s why we have crises all over the place!

    The Rivers emergency dilemma!

    Rivers State is now under emergency rule, and it’s likely to remain so for the next six months, unless a drastic change occurs. If not managed carefully, this could mark the beginning of a prolonged crisis.

    In situations like this, opinions tend to be divergent. For instance, some people hold the notion that the security situation and the need to protect the law and public order justified President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in, and the appointment of a sole administrator for, Rivers State. However, others view this act as ‘unconstitutional’, ‘reckless’, ‘an affront on democracy’, and ‘a political tool to intimidate the opposition’.

    When we criticize governments for unmet expectations, we often rely on our own perspectives and biases. Our individual identities and prejudices shape our criticism. However, it’s essential to recognize that not all criticism is equal. Protesting within the law is fundamentally different from protests that descend into illegality. Once illegality creeps in, the legitimacy of the protest is lost.

    As John Donne wrote in ‘Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions’, “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls.” A protest is legitimate when it aligns with societal norms, values and laws. But when protests are marred by violence or sabotage, they lose credibility. Without credibility, protests become ineffective.

    Regarding the validity or otherwise of the emergency rule in Rivers State, it is imperative that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors approach the Supreme Court immediately. They should seek a definitive clarification on whether the proclamation is ultra vires or constitutional. For whatever it’s worth, they owe Nigerians that responsibility!

     May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  • Power generation surges to new peak of 5,713Mw

    Power generation surges to new peak of 5,713Mw

    New statistics by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has shown that power generation climbed to 5,713.60 megawatts (Mw) yesterday.

    The latest data by TCN pushes the country’s 2025 generation feat to the highest since four years ago.

    According to the TCN, the whole of the 5,713Mw recorded was successfully transmitted.

    The country recorded a 5.543Mwgeneration on February 14.

    “This was recorded on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 21:30 hours, with the new generation peak of 5,713.60 megawatts (Mw), surpassing the previous peak generation of 5,543.20MW achieved on February 14, 2025, by 170.40 Mw,” the TCN stated.

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    It clarified that though this new peak is 88MW lower than the all-time maximum peak generation of 5,801.60Mw recorded on March 1, 2021, it remains a notable achievement.

    It added that the maximum daily energy also rose to 125,542.06 megawatt-hours, up from 125,159.48MWh achieved last month.

    “Furthermore, a new record for the maximum daily energy ever attained in the history of the electricity industry in Nigeria was also set yesterday, with a total of 125,542.06 megawatt-hours (MWh). This surpasses the previous record of 125,159.48MWh achieved on February 14, 2025, by 382.58 MWh,” the statement added.