By Ayomide Otitoju
NOJA Power Australia, in collaboration with its Nigerian representative, Fixontime Electric, and law firm Akinwunmi & Busari LP, under the auspices of its Let There Be Light series, has convened senior government officials, power sector executives, regulators, investors and other stakeholders for an Executive Dialogue on the Future of Electricity Distribution in Nigeria.
The high-level forum, themed “Effective Collaboration Between States, Regulatory Bodies, and Distribution Companies for Sustainable Electricity Supply,” focused on strengthening coordination across all levels of government and the private sector to address persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity distribution segment.
Delivering opening remarks on behalf of the Minister of Power, Hon. Bayo Adelabu, Engr. Effiong Ekanem, Assistant Director, Distribution Services, urged the 36 states to fully leverage the powers granted under the Electricity Act 2023 to accelerate infrastructure development. He stressed that while decentralisation offers flexibility, it must be underpinned by strong coordination to avoid fragmentation of the sector.
“Electricity distribution requires continuous capital investment, discipline and effective regulation. While decentralisation brings flexibility, it must not lead to fragmentation. Sustained collaboration among federal and state governments, regulators, operators and investors is the only viable path to resolving Nigeria’s power challenges,” the minister said.
Representing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, his Special Adviser, Temitope Akinyemi, reinforced the need for multi-stakeholder coordination, noting that no single institution can address the sector’s challenges in isolation.
Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Hon. Biodun Ogunleye, highlighted the need for deep technical reforms within distribution networks, including the transition to active grids, adoption of embedded generation, loss reduction through engineering-based billing, and optimisation of existing infrastructure.
Similarly, Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Hon. Dr Johnson Jaiyeola-Alabi, cautioned that while decentralisation presents opportunities, it must be carefully managed to prevent inefficiencies and regulatory overlaps.
Introducing NOJA Power’s Group Managing Director, Neil O’Sullivan, Engr. Wale Adereti, Managing Director of Fixontime Electric, described NOJA Power as a global smart grid solutions provider with operations in 116 countries. O’Sullivan emphasised the importance of technology-driven partnerships and private sector innovation in strengthening electricity distribution networks, particularly within Nigeria’s evolving decentralised power landscape. He also extended an invitation to Nigerian public and private sector stakeholders to visit NOJA Power’s base in Queensland, Australia, to engage with regulators and observe advanced electricity systems in operation.
From an industry standpoint, NOJA Power’s General Manager, Sales, Mr Glen Harris, outlined emerging opportunities in grid automation, smart infrastructure and sustainability-focused innovations to improve network reliability and support Nigeria’s energy transition.
Speaking on the theme of the event, Mr Seyi Akinwunmi, Partner at Akinwunmi & Busari LP and Founder of A&B – Let There Be Light, called on state governments to take proactive steps in partnering with public and private stakeholders to deliver reliable electricity, while urging investors to provide the capital and governance structures required for long-term sector growth.
The dialogue featured contributions from key industry leaders and regulators, including Dr Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Plc; Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, Managing Director of NISO; Dr Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission; Mr Abdulqadir Mohammed Dahiru, Head of Investment at the Nigerian Pension Commission; Mr Olufemi Ogunseinde, Executive Director, Investment, Ministry of Finance; Mr Rotimi Akinde, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Bank of Industry; Dr Demola Sogunle, Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers; and Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency.
Participants at the forum agreed that sustained stakeholder engagement, regulatory clarity and coordinated implementation across federal and state governments, alongside the private sector, are essential to translating Nigeria’s electricity reforms into reliable, affordable and sustainable power for households and businesses nationwide.
