The Federal Government has announced its intention to revoke the licenses of power distribution companies that deliberately fail to provide electricity to consumers, resulting in widespread blackouts across Nigeria.
Since January 2025, the country has experienced severe power shortages, with many towns and cities enduring prolonged periods of darkness due to the lack of electricity.
In a statement on his official X handle, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, express concern over the situation. He highlighted findings that revealed some Discos were intentionally withholding electricity from end-users in their franchise areas.
Adelabu emphasized that despite efforts to improve power supply, certain Discos were failing to distribute the electricity provided by TCN, exacerbating the problem. He warned of severe consequences, including license revocation, for willful non-performance by distribution companies.
He said, “It is disheartening to witness the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation. The ministry has been exerting pressure on the generating companies to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4,000MW.
“Despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.
“Moving forward, I am committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance. Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including licence revocation, may be imposed.
“Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.”
Recent reports showed that several Discos failed to utilize allocated electricity between February 1 and 14, 2024, exacerbating the blackout situation.
The minister confirmed that some Discos were deliberately refusing power supply from TCN, while vandalism further impacted regions like Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.
He further noted that “during recent supervisory visits to power generating plants, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector.”
He added, “Plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide.”
Adelabu assured Nigerians of ongoing efforts to address these issues and deliver better service.