Nigeria@66: Expert commends Tinubu’s power sector reforms
Lagos, Sept. 2026 (TBL Africa) An energy expert, Mr Adekunle Makinde, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its significant reforms and achievements in Nigeria’s power sector.
Makinde, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), made the commendation in an interview with on Wednesday in Lagos.
He said the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 on June 8, 2023, was one of the most significant reforms in the power sector in recent years.
According to him, the Act moved electricity from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, ending the Federal Government’s exclusive control over electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
“The Act makes electricity generation, transmission and distribution a concurrent responsibility of the Federal and state governments.
“Subnational governments are now empowered to issue licences to private investors for mini-grids and power plants within their jurisdictions,” he said.
Makinde said the reform had enabled several states to enact their own electricity laws and take greater responsibility for power supply within their jurisdictions.
He also cited the Federal Government’s victory in the nearly nine-year arbitration dispute with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd. over the 1,500-megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
He said the victory saved the country more than 3.38 billion dollars.
Makinde also commended the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) under the Electricity Act.
He said the development had helped to improve grid stability and reduce system collapses.
The energy expert listed the inauguration of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant and several substations across the country among other achievements of the administration.
He said the developments had contributed to an increase in electricity generation from about 4,100 megawatts in late 2023 to more than 6,000 megawatts.
Makinde also commended the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), saying the administration had secured more than 700 million dollars to deploy over five million smart meters.
He said the initiative would help eliminate estimated billing by electricity distribution companies.
