Consolidating Reforms for Sustainable Energy Future in Nigeria -NAPCO 6TH Edition Theme/Communique

The 6th Edition of the National Council on Power (NACOP) was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State, from Monday, 26th – Friday, 30th May, 2025 with the theme: “Consolidating Reforms for a Sustainable Energy Future in Nigeria”.

The Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, presided over the Council Meeting while the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman chaired the Plenary/Technical Sessions.

In the communique issued by the Council, four hundred and fifteen (415) delegates/participants drawn from the Public and Private Sectors and Civil Society Organizations were in attendance during the meeting while Twenty (20) memoranda on power-related issues were received and considered at the plenary/technical session.

The Memoranda were exhaustively discussed under the following seven (7) Plenary/Technical Sessions:

• Strengthening Sub-National Collaboration
• Pathways to Energy Transition and Access Expansion
• Safeguarding Power Infrastructure in High-Risk Areas
• Bridging Capacity and Gender Gaps in the Power Sector
• Maintaining Liquidity for the Sustainability of the Generation Company (GENCO)
• Improving Grid Coordination and Operational Efficiency
• Strengthening Distribution Company (DisCo) Performance

Summary of the Council’s considerations of the Technical Committee report and adoptions:

• NAPTIN to look at ways of raising funds to support the request for the establishment and operationalization of a Consolidated Power Training Fund (PTF) as stipulated in the Electricity Act 2023.
• Raising funds for the establishment and enforcement of a Research and Innovation Framework within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), as empowered by the Electricity Act 2023.
• Engagement with stakeholders, fine tune detailed description for the Establishment of a National Human Capital Development (HCD) Framework, Structured Apprenticeship Program, and Gender Mainstreaming Strategy in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) for the skills development of the Power Sector workforce to accelerate job creation and sustainable economic development.
• Quality control and assurance in the collaboration between the national and sub-national actors on the enforcement of Technical Standards and Regulations in NESI by NEMSA.

• Continuous engagement with NERC and Minister of power to ensure a raise in CAPEX for DISCOS recapitalisation to resolve challenges at the Transmission-Distribution and Distribution-Utilization Interfaces. CIPEN should engage COREN and NSE to avoid conflict of interest on the implementation of the registration and licensing of Power Engineering Professionals and Firms in Nigeria by Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN).
• A bold agenda for market transformation to enhance Nigeria’s power sector efficiency through strategic market reforms and innovation, NBET should continuously engage stakeholders.
• The ongoing collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders to ensure delivery of sustainable electricity for national development.
• Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the reforms in imbibing energy efficiency strategies for sustainable energy in the Housing Sector.
• The existing Renewable and energy efficiency policy driven by the Federal Ministry of Power be shared with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources/Gas, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Council on Climate Change for proper coordination of the policies.

• Consideration of additional Double Circuit 330/132kV transmission lines to reinforce power supply to the Northeast; Borno State Government should collaborate with REA to utilise the available funds for solar mini-grid development; States should develop embedded generation network; Mambilla Hydro Power Project hat was requested be fast-tracked was still under litigation; Sub-nationals to devise multi-agency and multi-stakeholder engagements to provide security to critical power infrastructure.
• Creation of Super Grid Networks and FACTS controller devices to help minimize losses on Transmission lines in the North East. There was an ongoing NORTHERN corridor transmission project to stabilize the grid in the entire transmission network of TCN.
• Borno State government to engage Yola Disco in improving and strengthening vandalized distribution networks in Borno State; Federal Ministry of Power to assist Borno State Government in the reconstruction of vandalized distribution infrastructure under the Distribution Expansion Programme;

• Borno State and adjoining states to collaborate with REA to attract private sector investment and funding in renewable energy for mini-grids sustainability;
• Upgrade of Aba-Itu Transmission Infrastructure network, Ibom Power should engage TCN/Federal Ministry of Power to resolve the line issue; Ibom Power should explore the eligible customer option within their areas of jurisdiction to address operational and liquidity issues;
• NISO should engage with key stakeholders in the sector and be fully operationalized before presenting a request to establish a National-Sub-National Power Coordination and Joint Planning
• The existence of a strategic plan of the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN to seek alternative sources of funding to strengthen the northern corridor through embedded generation and Double Circuit Lines; Electricity must be paid for at a cost-reflective rate; Market liabilities must be apportioned to all parties’ thorough engagements to ensure assets and liabilities apply to all parties.

The Council expressed its profound appreciation to the Government and people of Borno State for hosting the 6th Edition of the National Council on Power and agreed that the 7th Council will be held in Cross River State.