The policy aims to address the pressing challenges within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and set the nation on a path toward a robust, sustainable, and inclusive power sector.

Speaking at the presentation event on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, described the policy as “critical in our nation’s journey toward achieving a robust, sustainable, and inclusive power sector that meets the aspirations of all Nigerians.”

The NIEP-SIP is a comprehensive policy document that outlines strategic interventions across the entire electricity value chain, from generation and transmission to distribution and off-grid segments.

The minister emphasised that the policy is the product of extensive consultations with industry experts, key stakeholders, and development partners.

“The journey leading up to today has been a collaborative and rigorous process, driven by our collective commitment to addressing the pressing challenges within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” Adelabu noted.

He said the policy framework not only responds to current realities but also anticipates future needs, ensuring that the power sector remains resilient and efficient.

Addressing a gathering of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in a recent press briefing held at the Oyo State party headquarters in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Adelabu highlighted the administration’s determination to overhaul the existing challenges plaguing the power sector.

He emphasized the need to tackle the root causes of these issues comprehensively.

“This is why we are addressing the root cause of the power sector problems.

“We are addressing all the problems associated with all the segments of the power sector value chain – from gas supply to generation, to transmission, to distribution and to the customers themselves. There are a lot of things that we are doing that Nigerians will soon start seeing.

“Yes, there are pockets of improvements here and there, but that is not where we are going. We are still going to Eldorado whereby every Nigerian will be able to enjoy adequate, stable, functional and reliable power supply.

“But let me tell you that it is a journey and not a destination. We will start seeing this improvement as we are seeing now to improve. This is because when you are repairing, you will still suffer some damages, you will still suffer some pains.

“When they were repairing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for 10 years, people were having traffic jam and getting held up in serious traffic until they finished the road.

“So, while we are repairing, people must help us to bear the little pains that will come with it. But at the end of the day, we will make gains. For you to make an omelet, you must break eggs. This is the period of breaking the eggs. Very soon, we will start eating our omelet.

“I am determined to solve the problems in the power sector and Nigerians will start singing our good songs very soon,” he said.

He said the nation’s power sector must work this time because the government is not joking.

He pointed out that the practice of increasing power generation without getting it to consumers was not his focus, stressing that the target of his ministry was to get all available electricity to customers.

Adelabu disclosed this at the third edition of the roundtable for the legislature, judiciary and stakeholders on the enforcement of technical standards and regulations in the Nigerian electricity supply industry and allied industries, organised in Abuja by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.

Nigeria has 23 power-generating plants connected to the national grid with a combined installed capacity of over 10,000MW  and an available capacity of about 6,000MW.

However, only about 4,500MW of this power is supplied to consumers across the country.

Speaking at the event, Adelabu said, “My strategic roadmap for transforming this sector, top on the list is the bottom-up approach to reforming the sector. Past ministers may have started from the top, focusing on power generation from hydro, thermal, etc.

But what is the essence of the generated power when it is not being delivered to customers? It is useless! It is blinking in the dark because the customers do not know what we are doing. We have to change the game.

“We are starting from the bottom up. We are focusing on the customers. Also, we need liquidity, if you don’t collect (revenue), how do we finance the activities along the value chain? So we start from the customers to distribution, transmission and generation.”

He said the government would, however, continue to ramp up power generation, introduce new infrastructure in the power sector and provide necessary support to monitor these installations.

This infrastructure, we must ensure that they are of high-quality standard and acceptable quality. Now, who determines that, is it not NEMSA? Your work is very important, so if your activities have been taking eight hours per day, be ready for 12 hours.

“This is because we are not joking with the power sector this time around. It must work, we don’t have a choice. Any country that is serious about harnessing the potential of its natural mineral resources, needs energy, otherwise, the potential will be dead.”

The minister said President Bola Tinubu had promised to provide the required backing for the power sector to deliver electricity to Nigerians as expected.

“What we need here is the political will, and we have it. We might be light-weights in our respective capacities as individuals, but with the backing of Mr President who has resolved to deliver the dividends of democracy, we have become heavy-weights and we will throw those weights behind you at NEMSA and you will succeed,” he stated.

The Managing Director, NEMSA, Tukur Aliyu, said the enforcement of technical standards and regulations was critical in managing the growth of the electricity industry.

“It helps to ensure that all electrical installations deployed in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry meet the required technical standards, regulations and specifications to ensure that such systems are capable of delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electricity supply,” he stated.

Aliyu explained that in the course of carrying out NEMSA’s mandate in the past few years, the agency had met with resistance on several occasions.

“One of the reasons for such resistance is attributed to the lack of adequate knowledge about the agency’s mandate in the NESI by the relevant stakeholders.

“So this one-day enlightenment and interactive programme for legislators, judiciary, state government representatives and other stakeholders is aimed at bridging the knowledge gap in relation to NEMSA’s enforcement role in the industry.

“It is also an avenue to sensitise the legislators and judicial officers on the legal framework for the enforcement of technical standards and regulations in NESI and allied industries,” he stated.