The Senate is taking steps to amend the Electricity Act, 2023, in order to criminalise the vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure across Nigeria. This initiative comes in response to a rising wave of sabotage affecting the sector.
Once passed, the amendment will clarify the transitional provisions concerning the transfer of intra-state electricity matters from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to state governments. The bill, sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has already passed its second reading and has been referred to the committee on power for further legislative action.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a framework for engagement between electricity licensees and host communities, eliminate ambiguities in the existing law, and strengthen the legal framework governing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
During the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio highlighted the importance of electricity for industrial growth and emphasized the senators’ commitment to serving the future of Nigeria. Abaribe noted that the bill addresses critical issues that have arisen since the implementation of the Electricity Act, including the need for better regulatory coordination between national and sub-national governments.
Several senators stressed the urgency of imposing serious penalties on vandals to deter further sabotage, with some proposing severe measures, including capital punishment. The bill represents a collective effort to salvage the power sector from its current crisis, which has seen crippling debt and operational constraints.
