Thirteen years after privatisation: Nigeria is still paying for darkness, By Posi Olatubosun

Thirteen years ago, Nigeria sold its power sector to fix the lights. Who is still waiting for them to come on? On 1 November 2013, the Federal Government handed the generation and distribution companies to private owners amid promises of stable supply, private investment and an end to the generator economy. Thirteen years later, the verdict is plain: the reform has failed Nigerians. Installed capacity exceeds 13,000 megawatts, yet available generation still hovers between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, roughly where it stood before privatisation. The national grid collapsed twice in five days in January 2026 alone and suffered further disruptions in the months that followed. Homes and businesses still run on petrol and diesel. No serious economic recovery can be built on this foundation, and it is time to say so without euphemism.