Nigeria’s power sector has continued to face challenges, eleven years after privatisation in November 2013.

The last 12 months in the Nigerian electricity supply sector witnessed three key spoilers, including at least twelve national grid collapses, over 200 percent electricity tariffs, vandalisation of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, facilities, and other challenges.

Also, electricity generation remained below 5000 megawatts for over 200 million people, the same figure for years.

Newsmen, in this report, reviews the key issues that shaped Nigeria’s power sector in 2024.

In April 2024, Nigerians woke to over 200 percent electricity hikes for customers described as Band A, expected to have at least 20 hours of power supply. The increase resulted in customers paying N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from N66. The hike was greeted faced with opposition, but the decision was not rescinded.

The development further impacted households grappling with high inflation, while revenue rose for the 11 electricity distribution companies.

This comes as Nigeria failed to meet its self-imposed 6,000 megawatts electricity generation target.

Recall that Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had promised to achieve 6000 MW of electricity by the end of December 2024, but that did not come to pass. He recently blamed widespread vandalisation for the unmet promise.

Incessant vandalization of TCN facilities

2024 was a year of alarming rate of vandalisation of critical power infrastructure in Nigeria.

Vandalization of the Transmission Company of Nigeria facilities and other factors resulted in at least 13 national grid collapses, which plunged the nation into darkness at different times in 2024.

Despite calls for by Adelabu and TCN, vandals persisted in creating havoc on Nigerian electricity facilities nationwide, disrupting bulk power supply.

Darkness in 19 States of Northern Nigeria

Worse was the prolonged darkness in 19 Northern states and parts of Rivers and Bayelsa states. The darkness was caused by vandalism, according to TCN.

Power outage in Niger Delta states

Vandalisation of TCN transmission facilities persisted in Rivers and Bayelsa states until it was partly resolved in December.

Vandals destroyed the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 kilovolt line and stole tower components from the Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho 330 kV transmission lines in November 2024.

Optimism in Nigeria’s Power sector

The aforementioned challenges marred the power sector in 2024. However, the liberalisation of the sector, according to the 2023 Electricity Act, granting oversight functions to states, is the silver lining that emerged in 2024.

Newsmen reports that the Nigerian National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has transferred oversight powers to eight states as of December 30, 2024. States such as Ogun, Lagos, Enugu, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Imo have already received regulatory oversight for electricity operations.

This presents a positive outlook for Nigeria’s power sector in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, in his 2025 economic outlook, said the electricity tariff hike will unsettle expectations in the new year.