Electricity privatisation yet to meet expectations – Group
The Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) says Nigeria’s power privatisation has yet to fully deliver the expected improvements in electricity supply and service delivery.
The group declared that Nigeria’s power privatisation has fallen far short of expectations, worsening the plight of millions of citizens instead of delivering the promised relief and reliable electricity supply.
Mr Chinedu Bosah, the National Coordinator of CARE disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Lagos.
Bosah, have said that power privatisation has failed to deliver its promised benefits and has instead deepened hardship for millions of citizens.
He described the 2013 privatisation exercise as a misplaced reform driven by “self-serving interests,” arguing that it has turned electricity into “a luxury for a few and darkness for the majority.”
According to him, electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) have prioritized profit over service delivery, subjecting consumers to what he termed “outrageous billing practices” while failing to provide reliable power.
He alleged that many Nigerians are now burdened with additional costs, including the purchase and repair of transformers and prepaid meters, responsibilities he insists should not fall on consumers.
Bosah further cited reports indicating that the Federal Government has spent over ₦7 trillion on the power sector since privatisation in November 2013, with little to show in terms of improved electricity supply.
He stressed that generation companies (GENCOs) are producing below capacity, while transmission infrastructure remains weak and outdated.
“The power sector is in disarray despite massive public spending,” he said, adding that the collapse of several distribution companies due to mismanagement and corruption has forced government intervention in recent years.
He also criticised what he described as glaring inequality within the sector, where top executives and owners of power firms earn substantial salaries and bonuses, even as ordinary Nigerians endure persistent blackouts and rising energy costs.
On the way forward, Bosah called for a fundamental restructuring of the sector, including a reversal of privatisation and a return to public ownership.
However, he cautioned that such a move must be accompanied by democratic oversight involving workers and consumers to prevent a repeat of past inefficiencies associated with the defunct National Electric Power Authority and Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
He advocated for a system built on transparency, accountability, and public participation, arguing that this would curb corruption and ensure efficient management of the nation’s electricity resources.
Bosah also linked the power crisis to broader economic challenges, calling for a shift toward policies that prioritise public interest and equitable distribution of national resources.
He urged workers and communities to mobilize through sustained advocacy and engagement to demand reforms that would guarantee affordable and reliable electricity for all Nigerians.
“The resources of this country are enough to meet the needs of its people,” he said.
“What is required is a system that puts those resources to work for the collective good.
The CARE coordinator concluded by emphasising the need for sustained dialogue and action, noting that resolving Nigeria’s power crisis is critical to unlocking economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens nationwide.
