Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at restoring stability to Nigeria’s electricity sector, declaring that lasting transformation will only be achieved through collective commitment by all stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Speaking at the second quarterly Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja, Tegbe outlined a blueprint anchored on transparency, accountability, infrastructure protection, market discipline and improved governance.
The meeting, chaired by the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, brought together key players in the power sector, including electricity generation companies (GenCos), distribution companies (DisCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), regulators and policymakers. Also present were the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Rilwan Lanre Babalola, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman.
Delivering the keynote address, the minister stressed that Nigeria’s electricity challenges require a coordinated response across the entire power value chain, urging operators, regulators and government institutions to embrace shared responsibility in implementing reforms.
“Nigeria’s power crisis was not built by one hand, and it will not be fixed by one hand,” Tegbe said, calling for stronger collaboration to deliver a more efficient and reliable electricity market.
A major component of the reform agenda is the protection of critical power infrastructure. Tegbe advocated the formal designation of electricity installations as Critical National Assets, warning that vandalism, grid sabotage and electricity theft constitute economic sabotage with severe consequences for national development and millions of electricity consumers.
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Power is already implementing measures to improve grid reliability by addressing transmission bottlenecks, strengthening spinning reserves and upgrading protection systems at critical substations.
On electricity metering and tariff reforms, the minister said the continued reliance on estimated billing has unfairly disadvantaged consumers while masking operational inefficiencies within the industry. He said the ministry is accelerating nationwide metering to eliminate estimated billing and significantly reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.
Tegbe also revealed that the government is developing a sustainable tariff transition framework designed to protect vulnerable consumers from excessive tariff increases while providing investors with the certainty needed to support long-term investments in the power sector.
The minister emphasised that market reforms would only succeed if all participants fulfilled their financial obligations, calling for greater transparency in the computation of Derived Remittance Obligations (DRO) to strengthen confidence in the electricity market.
“Trust in the market begins with trust in the numbers,” he stated.
To deepen accountability, Tegbe announced plans to publish key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance scorecards for electricity generation and distribution companies, enabling consumers and other stakeholders to objectively assess the performance of operators across the sector.
He reaffirmed that the Ministry of Power would be guided by the principles of transparency, speed and accountability, pledging to eliminate bureaucratic delays, operate with openness and ensure that individuals or organisations whose actions undermine reforms are held accountable.
“Reform is not a promise deferred. It is a discipline being executed, every day,” the minister said.
