Experts want citizens involvement in loan disbursement in power sector
Abuja, May 2026 (TBL Africa) Some experts on power have called on the Federal Government to involve citizens in the disbursement of loans in the power sector for proper utilisation and impact on projects.
The experts spoke on Friday in Abuja, against the backdrop of the cancellation of the 717.7 million dollars in undisbursed World Bank intervention.
Nigeria requested the cancellation of 717.7 million dollars in undisbursed World Bank intervention financing designed to support the electricity sector.
The cancellation followed a formal request by the Federal Government and a joint decision by both parties to discontinue financing under the Power Sector Recovery Performance-Based Operation.
The report said that according to documents obtained from the World Bank, the development effectively terminates the remaining portion of a 1.52 billion dollar power sector recovery programme.
Mr Princewill Okorie, the Executive Director, Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy Centre, said that there was the need to engage citizens in the disbursement of loans in the country.
Okorie said; ” it is long overdue for government to engage with citizens to know how these loans are disbursed.
”The ones they claim was released before this cancellation, how were they utilised and managed.
” All these monies they bring in citizens are still buying transformers, buying poles, buying wires. even buying meters,” he said.
Mr Kunle Olubiyo, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, said that there seems to be a misalignment between original objectives of the ideas and the implementation of the loan.
Olubiyo said that these disconnects had resulted in urgent call for a discontinuation of the exercise.
”The sector by now is expected to have exited transition electricity market and migrate into market driven business model.
”There have not been any significant changes except distortions in the electricity market structure and no tangible investment in critical grid infrastructure brought about by the Power Sector Recovery Programme .
”There are no benefits to the demand side of the electricity market/end users customers,” he said.
