We owe Nigerians a democratic dividend of electricity, and we intend to deliver it – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has described a reliable electricity supply as a “democratic dividend” that his administration is determined to provide to Nigerians. He said that reforms underway in the power sector are designed to address long‑standing structural problems.

In his Democracy Day speech, Tinubu explained that when his government took office in 2023, the electricity sector was beset by deep‑rooted issues, including chronic generation shortfalls, an unstable gas supply, and a weak transmission network that could not evacuate available power. He added that distribution companies were burdened by heavy financial losses and a metering gap affecting more than four million customers.

The president noted that the sector also carried legacy debt, and that inefficiencies across the value chain meant that Nigeria’s installed generation capacity of roughly 13,500 megawatts was not being used effectively. He said that power generation, transmission, distribution, and revenue collection were all far below required levels, limiting service delivery nationwide.

To tackle these challenges, Tinubu said he signed the Electricity Act, which now permits states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently. He explained that the reform aims to decentralise the power sector and improve efficiency throughout the value chain.

The president also said the Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working to reduce the metering deficit and is preparing to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts in the sector.

He added that the Rural Electrification Agency, in partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has expanded off‑grid and mini‑grid projects to underserved communities, including schools, markets, and hospitals.

The president reiterated that electricity remains central to national development, stressing that it is a democratic dividend owed to all Nigerians and that his administration intends to deliver on that promise.

He recalled that in his 2023 campaign pledge, Tinubu stated that Nigerians should not re‑elect him in 2027 if his administration fails to ensure a stable electricity supply across the country.

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