The Nigerian government has appointed Rilwan Babalola as the chairman of a new task force aimed at addressing the country’s pressing electricity challenges. This initiative reflects a significant commitment to enhancing the power sector’s performance.

The task force will work directly under presidential authority to implement reforms. It aims to drive a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector. The focus will be on improving revenue assurance and liquidity within the industry.

Key objectives include:

• Creating a 90-day implementation blueprint for the power sector.
• Implementing a “performance before expansion” framework.
• Enhancing overall efficiency and commercial viability across the sector.

Babalola brings extensive experience as a former Minister for Power. His leadership is expected to guide necessary changes in line with sustainable development goals.

The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers recently launched the Nigerian Seismic Design Guidelines. These guidelines aim to promote safety and resilience in construction practices throughout Nigeria.

In related news, the Nigeria Bar Association is pursuing justice for a lawyer assaulted by members of the OCHA Brigade. An official connected to this incident was arrested on April 24, 2026, and charged on the same day.

Ozojiofor Michael of the NBA stated, “We remain resolute in our commitment to seeing that the rest of the individuals involved in this brazen act are identified, apprehended and brought to justice.” This commitment underscores ongoing efforts to ensure accountability within law enforcement agencies.

The next developments regarding both initiatives are anticipated shortly as stakeholders monitor progress in these critical areas.

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President Bola Tinubu has approved a N3.3 trillion payment plan aimed at settling outstanding debts in Nigeria’s electricity sector, a move that is expected to significantly enhance the country’s power generation capabilities. The debts, which accumulated over a decade from February 2015 to March 2025, have posed substantial challenges to the operational efficiency of power generation companies.

Implementation of this plan has already commenced, with 15 power generation companies signing settlement agreements valued at ₦2.3 trillion. The federal government has successfully raised ₦501 billion to fund these payments, of which ₦223 billion has already been disbursed. This financial intervention is seen as a crucial step in restoring liquidity across the power value chain.

Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, a key figure in the initiative, emphasized the broader implications of the program, stating, “This programme is not just about settling legacy debts. It is about restoring confidence across the power sector — ensuring gas suppliers are paid, power plants can keep running, and the system begins to work more reliably.” This sentiment underscores the government’s commitment to not only addressing past debts but also ensuring the sustainability of power supply in Nigeria.

The initiative is also designed to include improved metering and service-based tariffs that are linked to the quality of electricity supply. This approach aims to provide a more reliable power supply to industries, businesses, and small enterprises, thereby supporting economic growth and reducing the operational costs that have plagued many businesses due to unreliable power.

Despite the positive outlook, the Nigeria Labour Congress has voiced criticism regarding the demands from power generation companies for financial intervention, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of such measures. The power supply challenge has significantly increased operating costs for businesses, many of which have been forced to pass the additional burden on to consumers through higher prices of goods and services.

Looking ahead, the next phase of the programme, referred to as Series II, is set to commence this quarter. This phase is expected to build upon the initial successes of the debt settlement plan and further enhance the operational capacity of the electricity sector.

As the government moves forward with these initiatives, observers remain hopeful that the measures will lead to a more reliable power supply for Nigerians. However, details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific timelines and additional funding sources that may be required to sustain these efforts in the long term.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to merge the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources into a single Ministry of Energy. This demand comes in response to ongoing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s energy sector, which the NLC argues are exacerbated by the current separation of these critical ministries.

Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, emphasized that the existing structure has led to significant operational challenges, particularly in gas supply for thermal power generation. He stated, “Electricity is a social service and a fundamental right, not a luxury commodity to be traded on the various capitalists’ markets.” This statement underscores the NLC’s position that access to electricity should be viewed as a basic human right rather than a privilege.

The NLC’s criticism extends to the proposed ₦6 trillion bailout for power generation companies, which they describe as a mere symptom of deeper structural failures in the power sector. Ajaero remarked, “We cannot continue to deploy public funds to sustain a fundamentally flawed system, while ordinary citizens bear the burden of inefficiency through high tariffs and persistent outages.” This sentiment reflects widespread frustration among citizens regarding the ongoing power crisis.

Supporting their claims, the NLC pointed out that 16 out of 33 power plants are currently offline due to gas supply cuts, which have resulted in unpaid debts amounting to ₦3 trillion. The current output of power generation stands between 3,700 and 4,000 MW, while the installed capacity exceeds 13,000 MW. This stark contrast highlights the inefficiencies that the NLC believes a merger could address.

Ajaero further criticized the 2013 privatization of the power sector, asserting that it has failed to improve generation capacity. He argued that the merger of the ministries would enable holistic energy planning and fairer electricity pricing, ultimately benefiting consumers and the economy as a whole.

The NLC has called for a halt to the proposed bailout and urged the government to convene a National Stakeholders’ Summit to discuss the future of Nigeria’s energy sector. The organization believes that without significant structural changes, the power sector will continue to stagnate, adversely affecting the manufacturing sector and overall national development.

As discussions around the merger and the proposed bailout continue, the NLC’s demands highlight the urgent need for reform in Nigeria’s energy policies. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the government’s response to these proposals and the potential for a National Stakeholders’ Summit.

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The national grid collapse in Nigeria raises a critical question: how can a country with an installed capacity of 13,625 megawatts (MW) consistently fail to deliver adequate electricity? The answer lies in a combination of systemic failures, mismanagement, and infrastructural challenges that have plagued the power sector for years.

Electricity Generation Challenges

Despite having a substantial installed capacity, Nigeria’s actual electricity generation has remained significantly below this figure. In October 2025, only 5,506 MW was wheeled through the grid, which is less than half of the installed capacity. By early 2026, the situation worsened, with an average of just 4,901 MW available for dispatch, resulting in a plant availability factor of only 36 percent.

Frequent System Collapses

The national grid has suffered 26 system collapses in the last five years, with 2024 alone accounting for nine of these incidents. This alarming trend highlights the fragility of the electricity supply system and raises concerns about the reliability of power delivery to homes and businesses across the country.

Underlying Financial Issues

Compounding these operational challenges is the financial burden on the power sector, which is currently grappling with over ₦6 trillion in accumulated debts. These debts are largely driven by unpaid government subsidies, which have created a vicious cycle of underinvestment and operational inefficiencies.

Gas Supply Shortages

Gas-fired power stations, which are critical for electricity generation, require around 1.63 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. However, in early 2026, they were receiving only about 692 million cubic feet, further exacerbating the power supply crisis. This shortfall in gas supply has significant implications for the overall stability of the national grid.

Government Initiatives and Reforms

In response to the ongoing crisis, the federal government has introduced targeted tariff increases for higher-consumption customers, generating an additional ₦700 billion in revenue in 2025. Furthermore, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constituted an 11-member committee to oversee the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO), aimed at optimizing electricity generation and transmission. This initiative is part of broader reforms intended to strengthen the electricity value chain, although the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.

Leadership Accountability

The erratic power supply in Nigeria has raised questions about the leadership of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, since his appointment in August 2023. Adelabu’s recent statements suggest a commitment to addressing these challenges, but the public remains skeptical about the government’s ability to implement meaningful changes.

What Lies Ahead?

As Nigeria grapples with the ongoing national grid collapse, the future of its electricity supply remains uncertain. With significant operational, financial, and infrastructural challenges still in play, stakeholders are left to wonder whether the government’s reforms will lead to a more stable and reliable power supply. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the timeline and effectiveness of these initiatives, leaving many Nigerians anxious about the future of their electricity supply.

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