Nigeria’s electricity debate continues to generate strong opinions, but a closer examination of recent reforms reveals a structural shift that is often misunderstood, misrepresented, or prematurely judged.
Since assuming office in 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu initiated a fundamental transformation in the power sector through the amendment of the Electricity Act, enabling the decentralisation of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
This reform allows state governments to generate and manage electricity within their jurisdictions—marking a decisive break from Nigeria’s long-standing centralised power system.
“The reforms we have undertaken are difficult but necessary to secure Nigeria’s long-term stability and prosperity.” — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
For decades, Nigeria’s electricity sector was constrained by legal and structural bottlenecks that concentrated control at the federal level.
This model proved inefficient, unable to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population and economy.
By dismantling these legal barriers, the Tinubu administration has effectively unlocked new pathways for investment, innovation, and competition within the energy sector.
The implications of this policy are already becoming visible.
Several states, including Enugu, Edo, and Abia, have begun to operationalise their electricity markets. Enugu State is pursuing an ambitious target of approximately 690–700MW, up from an estimated current supply of about 70MW.
Edo State hosts the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant with capacity in the range of 450–461MW, while Abia State’s Aba Integrated Power Project provides about 141MW of installed capacity, expandable to 188MW, already improving electricity supply across multiple local government areas.
In Kano State, decentralisation is taking shape through embedded generation initiatives such as the 10MW HASKE solar project in Kombotso, alongside an estimated demand profile approaching 700MW. Sokoto State is advancing projects in the range of 38MW for independent power, with additional solar ambitions around 55MW. These figures may appear modest relative to total demand, but they represent a critical shift—from dependence to capacity building.
In Rivers State, major generation assets such as the Trans-Amadi plant at approximately 136MW and the Afam VI plant at about 650MW highlight the scale of existing infrastructure within the country.
In Borno State, the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, with capacity of about 52MW, has demonstrated the viability of localised electricity supply, particularly as it has operated in island mode outside the conventional national grid.
Plateau State reflects growing ambition, with proposed projects exceeding 300MW, though implementation remains at developmental stages.
Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic hub, is advancing one of the most ambitious electricity programmes in the country, with targets ranging from 3,000MW in the medium term to broader ambitions of up to 6GW.
This signals a decisive move toward subnational energy independence.
However, public perception has not fully caught up with policy reality.
Criticism of persistent grid instability often overlooks a fundamental truth: decentralisation is not an instant fix—it is a structural correction.
The national grid is no longer designed to carry the entire burden of Nigeria’s electricity needs. Instead, it is being repositioned as part of a broader, distributed energy system where states play a central role.
What is increasingly evident is that the foundation of Nigeria’s long-standing power crisis has now been addressed in principle.
By removing the legal obstacles that restricted electricity generation, distribution, and supply for decades, President Tinubu has fulfilled a critical component of his electoral promise.
This achievement deserves recognition.
For years, reform efforts were constrained by laws that limited innovation and discouraged investment. Those barriers have now been broken. What remains is execution.
With approximately ten months still within the current electoral cycle, the focus must now shift decisively from policy to delivery.
The legal framework is in place, and early adopters are already demonstrating tangible progress.
The responsibility now lies with both federal and state governments to accelerate implementation, deepen investment, and ensure that the benefits of reform reach households, businesses, and industries.
It is important to emphasise that electricity supply in Nigeria is now a shared responsibility.
While the federal government has created the enabling environment, the pace and effectiveness of implementation will depend largely on the commitment and capacity of individual states.
States that act decisively will experience improved power supply, increased industrial productivity, and economic growth.
Those that delay risk remaining trapped in the limitations of the past.
From an economic perspective, the implications are profound. Reliable electricity is the backbone of industrialisation, small business growth, and job creation.
By decentralising power, Nigeria is laying the foundation for reduced production costs, increased competitiveness, and broader economic expansion.
There is also a strategic advantage.
A decentralised system enhances resilience, reduces vulnerability to systemic failures, and allows for tailored solutions across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
In a country of such scale and complexity, a centralised model was never sufficient.
At the height of political discourse, this reform is often judged through the lens of immediate hardship rather than long-term transformation. Yet, structural reforms are rarely comfortable.
They are, however, necessary.
During the 2023 campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was widely reported to have told Nigerians not to re-elect him if he failed to improve electricity supply within four years.
That statement has since been used repeatedly as a political weapon.
But a more objective assessment reveals a different picture.
What the administration has done is to remove the single biggest obstacle to achieving that promise—the legal and structural constraints that made sustainable electricity improvement nearly impossible under the old system.
In other words, the foundation has been laid.
The gains of this reform will increasingly become visible—in more stable supply, reduced reliance on generators, lower business costs, and improved quality of life.
These outcomes will not emerge overnight, but they are now far more achievable than at any point in Nigeria’s recent history.
Nigeria is not yet where it needs to be in electricity supply.
But it is no longer where it was in terms of structural limitation.
The real test now is execution.
If sustained with discipline, urgency, and coordinated action across all levels of government, this reform has the potential to redefine Nigeria’s economic trajectory—transforming electricity from a chronic national challenge into a catalyst for growth, development, and national competitiveness.
The National Patriots
The National Patriots commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for breaking the long-standing legal and structural barriers that constrained electricity generation, distribution, and supply in Nigeria.
The decentralisation of the power sector is a bold and necessary reform that empowers states and unlocks new opportunities for growth. Nigerians must understand that this is a foundational shift whose benefits will soon become visible. This moment calls for appreciation, patience, and collective commitment to ensure effective and timely implementation.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser MFR.
President, the National Patriots.
