By John Joseph
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The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the performance of the country’s electricity distribution companies, known as DisCos, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. The Senate described the privatization of the power sector as a “total failure” and threatened to initiate legislative measures to reverse the policy.
According to Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, chairman of the Committee on Power, the DisCos have failed to deliver reliable electricity to Nigerians. This has led to concerns about the effectiveness of the 2013 privatization program, which aimed to improve power supply through private sector involvement.
The Senate’s criticism of DisCos and TCN is rooted in the frequent collapse of the national grid, which has resulted in significant financial losses. According to Abaribe, restarting a power plant costs approximately $7.5 million, with the total cost per grid collapse amounting to $25 million.
The national grid has collapsed multiple times, resulting in significant financial losses and power outages.
DisCos have failed to deliver reliable electricity to Nigerians, leading to deteriorating service quality. There is a lack of accountability in the power sector, with no sanctions for lapses in service delivery.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, criticized the privatization of the power sector, questioning its efficiency. He noted that despite privatization, distribution companies are unable to meet consumer demands, leading to deteriorating service quality.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) expressed regret over his earlier support for privatization, describing the process as ill-conceived and ill-executed. He lamented the fact that consumers are forced to pay for services not rendered.
The Senate Committee on Power has been given six weeks to develop improved recommendations concerning the non-functionality of DisCos and TCN.
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