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Senate’s Probe of GENCOs and DISCOs
- Nigeria’s electricity has remained one of the greatest challenges to the nation’s quest for industrial and technological advancement.
The nation’s electricity supply has been grossly inadequate, unaffordable and unreliable.
Statistics have it that 76 million of its citizens, or 40. 7% of the country ‘s population, which is more than twice the population of Canada are not connected to the national power grid. For those connected, power supply is still a serious problem as supply remains largely epileptic.No doubt, the country’s populace and industries cannot be globally competitive without access to affordable and reliable power.
It was with the aim of improving power in the country that the Federal Government in 2013 segmented the nation’s power into generation [Gencos] and distribution[Discos] companies. The result of this initiative has been abysmal as the power situation in Africa’s most populous nation continues to deteriorate.
It is for this, that we welcome the Senate’s decision to probe these companies, which are defeating the essence of their establishment. The Senate recently mandated its Committee on Power to investigate the activities of power generating and distribution companies with a view to unraveling the cause of unsteady power supply in the country. The investigating committee has four weeks to submit its report to the Senate for consideration. The decision by the upper chamber to probe power generation, transmission and distribution in the country was reached sequel to a motion considered during plenary last Tuesday.
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) had argued that Nigeria, with a population of 200 million and an annual growth rate of 2.6 percent per annum, and the seventh most populous nation on earth, has low power generation and distribution capacity grossly inadequate for its population and Gross Domestic Product, [GDP].He further argued that this cannot place the country to compete favourably in terms of development with other nations.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to find solutions to the power deficits faced by the country. The Lawmaker gave example of Indonesia and Philippines, which he noted that both countries with a population of 267 million and 107 million respectively, have installed power capacity of 60,000 megawatts and generating capacity of 42,465 megawatts as well as installed capacity of 20,055 megawatts and generating capacity of 16,271 megawatts.
While expressing optimism that Nigeria can set a realisable target of generating capacity of 100,000 megawatts in the next 10 years, he said same could be achieved through a mix of energy sources such as natural gas, hydro, coal, wind and renewable energy.
We call on the Committee on Power and indeed, the entire Senate to immediately convoke a stakeholders summit to brainstorm on the nation’s power supply, which appears to have defied all solutions to make it work.
We equally agree with The lawmaker’s advice to the Federal Government to build on existing policy frameworks inherited from past administrations. Accordingly, the Senate urged the Federal Government to upgrade the transmission infrastructure of Nigeria’s power grid for a more efficient transmission of power. While advocating for 100,000 megawatts installed capacity to match the size of Nigeria’s economy and population, the upper chamber urged the Federal Government to break-up the country’s power distribution companies into smaller, more manageable distribution companies for optimal performance. The task of fixing the nation’s power is a serious one, and as a result the Senate as well as the Federal Government and the stakeholders should give it desired attention and support to succeed.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has urged policymakers to prioritise targeted interventions to address uneasiness around cost of living to ensure Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth translated into real improvements in citizens’ welfare.
The Founder, CPPE, Dr.
Muda Yusuf, gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos in reaction to the country’s third quarter GDP report which grew by 3. 98 per cent.Yusuf noted that though the report showed slight moderation from the 4.3 per cent growth in the second quarter.
However, data confirms the economy remains firmly on a path of steady recovery and consolidation.
Yusuf said the performance highlighted the positive impact of ongoing economic reforms, especially in stabilising the exchange rate, moderating inflation, improving fiscal conditions and gradually restoring investors’ confidence.
According to him, these macroeconomic gains have strengthened business sentiment and supported activity across key sectors of the economy.
He, however, noted that in spite of improving fundamentals, the cost-of-living crisis remains a concern.
Yusuf said while disinflation was underway and prices of some food items and manufactured products were easing, the social outcomes of economic reforms continued to weigh on households.
“It is, therefore, imperative for policymaking to prioritise targeted interventions to address the uneasiness around cost of living and ensure that GDP growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare—particularly for vulnerable groups,” he said.
Yusuf said to consolidate the gains recorded in Q3 and unlock stronger, more inclusive growth, certain policy interventions were critical.
He emphasised the need to reduce structural bottlenecks, mitigate the cost of the living crisis, strengthen agricultural productivity, rebuild manufacturing competitiveness and address housing affordability.
Yusuf also called for increased funding for social sectors such as health and education, enhancement of non-oil exports, stabilised oil output and security of critical infrastructure.
He reaffirmed that targeted policies to ease cost-of-living pressures was crucial to making the reform process inclusive.
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Reps Order Forensic Audit of NMDPRA over Alleged Mismanagement of Gas Infrastructure Fund
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
Public Accounts Committee (PAC), of the House of Representatives, on Monday, ordered a forensic audit of theMidstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over the alleged mismanagement of the Fund’s operations from 2021 to date.
The Committee Chaired by Representative Bamidele Salam on Monday made the decision after a motion, titled “Motion on the Urgent Need to Investigate Misapplication and Mismanagement of Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from Year 2021 to Date in Contravention of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021,” was moved by Hon. Cyriacus Umeha and seconded by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.The Committee noted that Section 52(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 established the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Development Fund, stating that its utilisation must be subjected to appropriation by the National Assembly.It further observed that Section 52(7a) stipulates that the fund should be financed through 0.5 percent of the wholesale price of petroleum products and natural gas sold in Nigeria, collected from wholesale customers in addition to levies outlined in Section 47(2)(c) of the Act.Lawmakers also drew attention to Sections 52(8) and (9) of the Act, which mandate the NMDPRA to ensure the prompt collection of all such sums into the Fund’s account within 21 days of the sale of petroleum products and natural gas in the country.The Committee highlighted that Order 20, Rule 6(5) of the House Standing Orders (11th Edition) empowers the Public Accounts Committee to investigate loss of public revenue, non-remittance of fees, and violations of financial laws in the administration of public funds.However, concerns were raised after the Public Accounts Committee, in a letter dated July 21, 2025, requested the NMDPRA to submit relevant information on the administration and utilization of the Fund and to appear before the Committee on August 12, 2025.According to the motion, the Authority neither responded to the request nor honoured the invitation.The Committee explained that it issued a final reminder on August 26, 2025, but the NMDPRA still failed to comply, raising further suspicion about the management of the fund.Lawmakers expressed alarm that several wholesale customers had defaulted in paying the mandatory 0.5 percent levy, despite Section 52(9) empowering the Authority to set regulations for late or non-payment.They also cited serious allegations of due process violations, disregard for financial regulations, and the absence of audit reports on the fund since its establishment.In response, the House resolved to mandate the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of all funds collected by the NMDPRA since 2021.The Committee said the audit is expected to uncover the extent of alleged mismanagement, misappropriation, and fraudulent diversion of funds, as well as identify wholesale customers who failed to remit the required levy.PAC ordered the Auditor-General to report back to the Committee within 60 days.
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
A youth leader in Effi, Okuni community in Ikom local government area of Cross River State, Alobi Ndifon has asked Executive Director Rainforest Resource and Development Center (RRDC), Prince Odey Oyama, to tender payment evidence for N40m compensation money that he allegedly collected from the Cross River State Government for superhighway on behalf of the community.
Ndifon made the accusation during an interactive session with our reporter in Calabar yesterdayHe accused Oyama of lacking the moral justification to accuse Okim, who is their community legal Adviser of not being transparent, as Oyama himself is not transparent accusing him of causing divisions within the community. He urged Oyama to stop spreading malicious propaganda against the Okim, accusing Oyama of fostering divisive tendencies rather than unity in the community.He said that Oyama’s claim of a secret agreement between Okim and Chinese nationals has been described as “totally unfounded” and lacking evidence to back his claims.Ndifon demanded that Oyama produce evidence to support his claims or retract his statements, saying that the allegations are damaging to Okim’s reputation.He accused Oyama of prioritizing his selfish interests over the well-being of the community, causing harm to the community’s unity and progress.Ndifon stated that Oyama’s actions are motivated by a desire to destroy Okim’s reputation and advance his own interests, rather than working towards the betterment of the Olulumo Community.Ndifon demanded that Oyama produce evidence to support his claims or retract his statements, saying that the allegations are damaging to Okim’s reputation.He accused Oyama of prioritizing his selfish interests over the well-being of the community, causing harm to the community’s unity and progress.Efforts to get Oyama to react on the issue failed as text messages and telephone calls put across to him after a failed attempt to speak with him, yielded no results as Oyama neither replied to the text message or replied to the telephone even when his phone ran several times.
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