By Ijeoma Agbafo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges, declaring that access to reliable power is a right owed to every citizen. Speaking during his Democracy Day national broadcast on Thursday, the President said electricity remains a key priority under his Renewed Hope agenda and pledged to continue reforms aimed at improving power supply across the country.
Tinubu stated that, “Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it,” while highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s power sector. He noted that the government is pursuing measures designed to improve generation, transmission and distribution, as well as expand access to electricity through metering programmes and off-grid energy projects.
As part of these efforts, the President referenced interventions aimed at resolving the sector’s long-running financial difficulties. In October 2025, the Federal Government approved a ₦4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts owed to power generation companies and gas suppliers.
The initiative is intended to restore liquidity to the electricity market, improve investor confidence and address payment challenges that have hindered power generation and supply. The administration also approved a ₦3.3 trillion payment plan in April 2026 to clear verified power sector debts accumulated between 2015 and 2025.
According to government officials, the debt settlement framework forms part of wider reforms that include tariff adjustments, targeted subsidies for vulnerable consumers and infrastructure upgrades aimed at boosting efficiency. Nigeria’s electricity sector has struggled for years with liquidity shortages, inadequate infrastructure and frequent blackouts, factors that have limited investment and affected economic growth.
While the government maintains that ongoing reforms will deliver lasting improvements, stakeholders have stressed that successful implementation, financial discipline and sustained private-sector participation will be crucial to achieving reliable electricity supply for Nigerians.
