KOWA YA TUNA BARA!
EDITION 10
An Alfijir Labarai Special Investigation
Electricity has long been a major challenge affecting Nigerian households, businesses, industries and public services. During General Sani Abacha’s rule, from 1993 until his death in June 1998, the federal government continued to operate the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) while discussing reforms to government-owned enterprises.
What do the historical figures tell us about electricity generation during this period?
ELECTRICITY GENERATION FIGURES
Data published in a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) research paper, drawing on NEPA records and the CBN Statistical Bulletin, show the following:
1993: Total generation was 14,504.6 million kilowatt-hours, with installed capacity of 4,586.6 megawatts.
1994: Total generation was 15,531.0 million kilowatt-hours, with installed capacity of 4,548.6 megawatts.
1995: Total generation was 15,856.6 million kilowatt-hours, with installed capacity of 4,548.6 megawatts.
1996: Total generation was 16,242.8 million kilowatt-hours, with installed capacity of 4,548.6 megawatts.
1997: Total generation was 16,116.6 million kilowatt-hours, with installed capacity of 4,548.6 megawatts.
1998: Total generation was 15,110.0 million kilowatt-hours, while reported installed capacity stood at 5,400 megawatts.
Source: CBN, “Electricity Crisis in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” using NEPA and CBN Statistical Bulletin data.
The figures show that electricity generation rose between 1993 and 1996 before declining in 1997 and 1998. However, the full-year 1998 figures cannot be attributed exclusively to Abacha’s administration because he died in June of that year and General Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeded him.
Installed capacity also does not mean that all generating capacity was available at every moment or that electricity reliably reached every part of the country.
TRANSMISSION LOSSES
The report also identifies electricity losses during transmission as a major challenge.
Transmission losses were reported at 31.1 per cent in 1993, rising to 44.3 per cent in 1996 and 45.1 per cent in 1997. The figure for 1998 was 43.6 per cent.
These figures indicate substantial losses within the electricity system. However, they do not establish a single cause for those losses; further technical records would be needed to assess the contribution of transmission infrastructure, electricity used within the power industry and the methodology used to compile the figures.
THE PROPOSED NEPA REFORMS
During the later years of Abacha’s administration, the government discussed restructuring NEPA and selling shares in certain state-owned enterprises.
The U.S. Department of State’s 1998 economic report stated that, although plans had been announced for the privatisation of telecommunications and electricity-generating enterprises in 1997, little progress had been made by October 1998. The report also stated that the government cut capital expenditure in 1998, including allocations affecting the power sector.
This provides evidence of a reform agenda, but the records reviewed do not establish that NEPA was fully privatised or that the proposed restructuring was completed under Abacha.
DID ABACHA BUILD A NEW MAJOR POWER STATION?
In this investigation, we have not found sufficient primary documentation to verify a major power station that was both initiated and fully completed under Abacha, with its project cost and completion date independently established.
We therefore do not attribute power stations built before 1993 to his administration. Nor do we treat a government announcement or budget proposal as proof that a project was completed.
This does not prove that no rehabilitation or smaller power-sector projects took place. It means the available evidence reviewed for this edition is insufficient to confirm specific projects and their completion status.
CONCLUSION
The available figures show that electricity generation increased between 1993 and 1996 but declined in 1997 and 1998. Over the same period, reported transmission losses rose substantially between 1993 and 1997.
Abacha’s government discussed reforms to NEPA, but the report reviewed here indicates that little progress had been made towards privatising electricity-generating enterprises by October 1998.
The evidence therefore supports a limited conclusion: reform proposals existed, but the available records do not establish that the administration resolved the wider problems of generation and transmission or completed a new major power station during Abacha’s rule.
Further NEPA records, budget documents and project-completion reports could provide a more detailed picture.
SOURCES
1. Central Bank of Nigeria, “Electricity Crisis in Nigeria: The Way Forward”:
https://www.cbn.gov.ng/OUT/PUBLICATIONS/OCCASIONALPAPERS/RD/2001/OWE-01-3.PDF
2. U.S. Department of State, Nigeria: 1998 Country Report on Economic Policy and Trade Practices:
https://1997-2001.state.gov/issues/economic/trade_reports/africa98/nigeria98.html
3. National Library of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha’s Budget of Consolidation, delivered on 17 February 1996:
https://nigeriareposit.nln.gov.ng/items/f6094ffb-0e0a-48b9-90f5-7ae16691e707
4. Bureau of Public Enterprises, Power Sector Reform in Nigeria:
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