House Ad-Hoc Committee on Power Sector Hearing Exposes Sector Challenges, Seeks Lasting Solutions

By Urube Peter, Abuja

At a public hearing convened by the House Ad-Hoc Committee on the Power Sector and chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu, stakeholders outlined numerous challenges confronting Nigeria’s electricity industry, from liquidity constraints to distribution inefficiencies and widespread power theft.

Representatives from DISCOs, GENCOs, and consumer advocacy groups shared insights on critical issues affecting the sector and proposed recommendations for improvement.

Mr. Princewill Okerie, an advocate with Consumers Protection of Nigeria, raised concerns about the ownership and distribution structure of the power value chain, noting that state and local governments collectively hold 40 percent, while DISCOs control 60 percent. He pressed for clarity on who speaks for the federal, state, and local governments within the DISCO framework and called for greater transparency in revenue management.

Engr. Vincent Ekwekwu, Managing Director of Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC, outlined difficulties faced by the company, including financial limitations and persistent vandalism. He urged the government to intervene to mitigate these challenges.

Chief Sunday Oduntan, MD/CEO of ANED, attributed unstable electricity supply partly to consumers’ failure to settle their bills. He stressed the importance of fairness in the sector and appealed for government action to ease liquidity pressures.

Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, Acting MD/CEO of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, emphasized the need to address metering gaps and power theft, arguing that proper metering and monitoring systems are vital for boosting revenue.

The committee suspended proceedings and scheduled continuation of the hearings for December 16, 17, and 18, 2025.