FROM RAHILA ABDULLAHI, KADUNA
Nigeria Youth Forum, NYF, has called on President Bola Tinubu to revoke the licences of electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, that fail to deliver on their promises.
The group made this demand in a press statement released yesterday, citing the persistent inefficiency in Nigeria’s electricity supply and the widely criticised privatisation model.
According to NYF, the total electricity supplied to over 200 million people is significantly lower than the power supply allocated to a single international airport in Europe.
The group’s National President, Comrade Toriah Filani, expressed deep concern over the sector’s dismal output, noting that Nigeria currently generates about 7,000 megawatts of electricity, but only about 5,000 megawatts can be distributed due to obsolete infrastructure and the failure of DisCos to invest in essential distribution materials.
The NYF recommended a strategic and solution-driven approach to resolve the crisis, including the enforcement of a performance-based regulatory framework that holds DisCos accountable to clear benchmarks in customer service, infrastructure investment and energy distribution efficiency. The group also proposed the creation of a DisCo Recovery Task Force to audit past investments and operational records of distribution companies since privatisation.
Furthermore, it called on the federal government to empower state governments to drive subnational electricity markets by establishing a Subnational Power Autonomy Acceleration Fund.
The group also advocated for the promotion of alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, water and waste-to-energy systems, and urged government to introduce tax incentives, import waivers and funding support for renewable energy projects.
NYF’s position aligns with recent remarks by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who criticised the ongoing inefficiencies in the power sector despite its privatisation. President Tinubu had also acknowledged that the privatisation of the power sector has not achieved its intended outcomes, announcing a $122.2 billion investment blueprint aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure by 2045.
NYF maintained that new policies without structural, ethical and operational reforms will not deliver the desired results, urging the presidency to show sincerity by enforcing existing laws, promoting transparency and embracing innovation.
“Privatisation without accountability is a fraud against the Nigerian people. The presidency must show sincerity by enforcing existing laws, promoting transparency and embracing innovation. It is time to revoke the licences of non-performing DisCos and bring in competent investors who can truly light up the nation.”
