Across the South East of Nigeria, a quiet yet troubling pattern is emerging—one that closely mirrors the gradual collapse of public water corporations decades ago. Today, electricity generation and distribution companies (GenCos and DisCos) appear to be drifting along the same path toward irrelevance, inefficiency, and eventual public abandonment.

There was a time when Water Corporations formed the backbone of urban and semi-urban life. Households depended on them for clean, affordable water. However, years of neglect, poor management, inadequate investment, and weak accountability steadily eroded their capacity. Infrastructure deteriorated, pipes ran dry, and public trust evaporated.

In response, citizens turned to boreholes, private vendors, and self-help solutions—creating entirely new business ecosystems and value chains. Today, while Water Corporation offices still exist across the South East, they have largely lost their relevance. Nearly 95% of modern buildings now rely on private boreholes for water supply.

This is the same trajectory that many electricity companies in the region now appear to be following.

Despite the privatization of Nigeria’s power sector, the promised transformation in service delivery has largely failed to materialize. Instead, consumers continue to grapple with estimated billing, erratic supply, dilapidated infrastructure, and a persistent lack of transparency. What was meant to usher in efficiency and investment has, for many Nigerians, become a symbol of disappointment.

It must also be acknowledged that vested interests within both government and the private sector have undermined the privatization process. Critical national assets were handed over to politically connected entities lacking the technical expertise required to manage such a vital utility. To this day, Nigerians continue to bear the cost of those flawed decisions.

Across cities and communities in the South East, individuals and businesses are already adapting—just as they did with water. A recent observation in Onitsha highlights how lithium-based solar systems are rapidly gaining dominance in the energy market. Households, hotels, and small businesses are investing heavily in alternative energy solutions to secure reliable power.

With solar energy requiring minimal regulatory barriers, it is only a matter of time before communities and cooperative societies begin to establish mini solar farms to meet their electricity needs independently.

In essence, people are gradually disconnecting—both psychologically and economically—from the national grid.
This shift is not merely about alternatives; it is fundamentally about trust.
Once public confidence in a service provider collapses, rebuilding it becomes an uphill task.

Electricity companies, much like the defunct Water Corporations, are increasingly perceived not as service providers but as burdens—entities that bill consumers without delivering commensurate value. The cost of electricity has become unbearable for many. How does a civil servant earning less than ₦70,000 monthly sustain an electricity bill of ₦40,000? How do tariff band classifications (Band A, B, C, D,E) justify the glaring inequality in access and pricing?
If left unchecked, GenCos and DisCos risk becoming practically obsolete—existing only through regulatory protection and forced patronage rather than genuine consumer demand.

The broader economic implications are significant. Energy insecurity discourages investment, cripples small businesses, and widens socio-economic inequality.
However, this outcome is not inevitable.
The recent constitutional shift moving electricity from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List presents a critical opportunity. South East governors must aggressively leverage this reform to develop localized, efficient power solutions. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, through his partnership with Geometric Power, is already demonstrating what is possible. Early signs indicate improvements in power supply in Aba and Umuahia, though much work remains.
The region is richly endowed with energy resources. Enugu possesses vast coal deposits, while Imo and Anambra have significant natural gas reserves. Strategic investment in gas infrastructure and regional power projects could drastically reduce the cost of electricity for consumers.
At the same time, electricity companies must prioritize universal metering to eliminate estimated billing, invest in modern infrastructure, and adopt customer-centric models that emphasize reliability, affordability, and transparency. Regulators must also rise to the occasion—enforcing performance standards, ensuring accountability, and protecting consumers from exploitation.

The lesson from the Water Corporations is unmistakable: when institutions fail to serve the people, the people will find alternatives—and move on.

Electricity stakeholders in the South East must now make a choice: reform and remain relevant, or continue on a path that leads to gradual extinction. The warning signs are already clear. Ignoring them would be a costly mistake.

Ndubuisi Anaenugwu
Ambassador General
Good Governance Ministry (GGM)
Email: ggovernanceministry@gmail.com

Something happened in Nigeria in April 2017 that shocked everyone. The ending of this story will shock you even more.

The EFCC received information about a large amount of money being kept inside a private apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The information came through a whistleblower.

Then on the 12th of April 2017, EFCC officers went to the flat at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi.

When they entered the apartment, they found large sums of money kept inside metal cabinet and Ghana must go bag.

The money was all in cash.

After counting, the EFCC discovered about 43 million dollars, 27,800 British pounds and 23 million Naira.

All in cash.

The apartment was quickly sealed and the money was taken into EFCC custody.

As investigation continued, the apartment and the money were linked to Folashade Oke.

Fulashade Oke is the wife of Ayodele Oke.

At that time, Ayodele Oke was the director general of the National Intelligence Agency.

President Mohammadu Buhari ordered his immediate suspensions as the director general of the National Intelligence Agency to allow for investigation.

Court documents later showed that the apartment was bought in 2015 through a company and that company was led by Folashade Oke and her son, and the apartment was reportedly purchased with cash.

Omo cash was flowing then.

During the investigations, there were allegations that the money found in the apartment could be unlawful public funds suspected to have been diverted while Ayodele Oke was the head of intelligence agency.

By November 2017 the matter had reached the Federal High Court in Lagos In early November the EFCC summoned Ayodele Oke and his wife to appear for questioning in connection with the cash discovery.

On November 9, 2017, the Federal High Court ordered the interim forfeiture of the Ikoyi apartment and the entire sum of money to the federal government of Nigeria.

The court then gave a period of 14 days for any person or organization to come forward and show why the property and the money should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

But no successful legal claim was established.

The court later ordered the finance official of the cash and the apartment to the federal government.

The whistleblower who provided the information was rewarded under the federal whistleblowing policy.

In 2019, the EFCC declared Ayodele Oke and his wife wanted, after they failed to appear in court, to face charges later to the money laundry and unlawful possessions of funds.

The case remained in court for several years. Because the man and his wife had fled the country long before for acclaimed medical reasons.

And then finally, in June 2023, the EFCC applied to withdraw the charges. Why?.

The commission told the court that the withdrawal was based on national security considerations.

The Federal High Court granted the request.

And that was how the charges were struck out.

And the case was brought to an end, just like that.

Now guess what? Here’s the shocker…

The same Ayodele Oke is now Nigerian’s ambassador-designate to France.

He was nominated by President Tinubu and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate.

Do not scratch your ear.
You indeed heard what I said.

Welcome to our motherland.

~ Fidelis

Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), witnessed a historic and energetic gathering yesterday as a large crowd of students turned out to welcome Gov Alex Otti during the commissioning of major projects and the unveiling of new development initiatives aimed at transforming Abia State University.

Among the key highlights of the visit was the commissioning of a refurbished 5 MVA Power Station, upgraded from 2.5 MVA, a move expected to significantly improve electricity supply within the university and extend benefits to surrounding communities.

In a bid to enhance student welfare, three retrofitted hostels—Blocks A, B, and C—were also delivered, providing improved living conditions for students. Additionally, several ambitious infrastructure projects were flagged off, including the construction of 5,000-bed female and male hostels, new buildings for the Faculties of Agriculture and Law, as well as a 1.8-kilometre internal road network.

At the combined 30th to 32nd convocation ceremony, far-reaching educational support initiatives were announced. These include automatic lecturing positions for first-class graduates as Graduate Assistants after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as well as postgraduate scholarships up to PhD level for eligible graduates across public universities in Nigeria.

To promote entrepreneurship, a ₦200 million business grant was unveiled to support 100 graduates with innovative ideas in key sectors such as agriculture, information and communication technology, and clean energy.
The event also featured the recognition of academic excellence, with the best graduating student, Mrs. Oluchi Etumsi, receiving a special personal award. Several distinguished personalities were honoured, including the Ooni of Ife, Barrister Dr. Allen Onyema, and Dr. Stella Okoli.

The developments underscore a broader commitment by the Abia State Government to strengthen education as a foundation for growth, with ongoing efforts focused on positioning ABSU as a centre of innovation, excellence, and leadership.

Queen Madu writes for BVI Channel 1