- Chinedu Bosah, a power expert, criticised the transfer of electricity regulation from NERC to Lagos State, stating that it would not fix core power issues in generation, transmission, and distribution.
- He emphasised that Nigeria’s electricity crisis stems from poor investment. Only 5,000MW is generated from an installed capacity of 14,000MW.
- Bosah urged public investment over-reliance on privatisation, arguing that regulation alone won’t solve the sector’s challenges.
Power expert Chinedu Bosah raised concerns about shifting regulatory control from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to Lagos State.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bosah, the National Coordinator for the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE), argued that this move would fail to address Lagos’ power issues. He said the Lagos State Electricity Law of 2024 ignores key problems in power generation, transmission, and distribution.
“Switching regulators won’t solve these deep-rooted problems,” Bosah stated. “Without fixing the inefficiencies, this change won’t improve Lagos’ electricity supply.”
Bosah stressed that Nigeria’s electricity crisis results from a lack of investment. He pointed out that although Nigeria’s installed capacity is 14,000 megawatts (MW), the country only generates about 5,000 MW.
“The shortfall comes from high gas prices, poor infrastructure for gas supply, and weak transmission and distribution networks,” Bosah explained.
He highlighted rising electricity tariffs as another challenge, noting that many Nigerians cannot afford the increases, which complicates efforts to improve the sector.
Bosah also criticised the heavy reliance on private investment, arguing that it had failed to deliver results. He cited the 11-year history of privatisation, which he said had not led to any significant improvements. Despite several government bailouts, the sector struggles with poor service delivery and inadequate infrastructure.
“Electricity requires massive capital,” Bosah said. “Expecting private investment alone to solve the problem is unrealistic, and the past decade has shown that.”
He further criticised the current tariff system, arguing that it favours wealthier individuals while neglecting the energy needs of the broader population. He said the policies focus more on profits than providing reliable electricity for everyone.
“The current tariff structure benefits the middle and upper classes while ordinary Nigerians continue to suffer,” Bosah remarked.
He stressed that industrialised countries made progress by investing heavily in public infrastructure, not just by regulating the sector. Bosah argued that without similar large-scale public investment, Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress in power generation, transmission, or distribution.
“Public investment holds the key to solving Nigeria’s electricity crisis. Regulatory changes won’t deliver real reforms,” Bosah asserted.
He urged Lagos State and the federal government to rethink privatisation policies and focus on public funding to improve the electricity sector. Bosah argued that, without this, Lagos and Nigeria would see only superficial changes in the power supply.
In conclusion, Bosah reiterated that solving Nigeria’s electricity challenges requires addressing the sector’s structural issues. Shifting regulatory control will not lead to lasting improvements without substantial public investment.