Nigeria needs merit-based appointments, policy consistency to fix power – Ex-TCN boss

Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria's persistent electricity challenges can only be overcome through merit-based appointments and consistent policies, stated Alhaji Abubakar Atiku-Tambuwal, former Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). In an interview in Abuja, Tambuwal advocated for appointing competent professionals based on merit, not political connections, emphasizing that effective leadership is crucial for a stable power supply.

Tambuwal identified a lack of coherent leadership, corruption, and the ineffective implementation of reforms as primary reasons for the sector's struggles. He noted that the privatization process was not entirely transparent, leading to a lack of synergy among stakeholders. Furthermore, corruption has hampered the execution of critical power projects aimed at expanding infrastructure and enhancing reliability.

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The power sector reforms did not help matters either, as the privatisation process was not entirely transparent, leading to a lack of synergy among stakeholders needed to achieve the desired outcome of the reforms.

The former TCN boss called for a complete transformation of the power sector, driven by experienced leadership, strategic planning, and robust regulation. He highlighted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's (NERC) need to strengthen its oversight role to ensure operators fulfill their obligations. Tambuwal also stressed that solving the nation's electricity problems requires an integrated approach, where generation, transmission, and distribution companies collaborate effectively. He warned that increasing generation capacity without corresponding improvements in transmission and distribution infrastructure would not yield the desired results.

He urged for coordinated planning, increased infrastructure investment, and the deployment of modern grid monitoring systems. Tambuwal described the TCN as the backbone of Nigeria's power sector and acknowledged the government's decision to retain its ownership due to its strategic importance. While noting the restructuring of TCN into the Independent System Operator (NISO) and Transmission Service Provider (TSP) as a positive development, he called for the completion of ongoing reforms to boost sector efficiency. Renewable energy, he added, could also contribute to addressing electricity deficits.

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You cannot treat generation, transmission, and distribution as isolated islands. When they operate in silos, the entire system breaks down.