Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said Nigeria’s electricity crisis is driven more by weak distribution networks than by a lack of power generation.
The governor spoke on Wednesday during a high-level meeting with power sector consultants and financiers at Government House in Asaba, where he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering stable and reliable electricity across Delta State.
Oborevwori said Nigeria already has the capacity to generate substantial electricity, but inefficiencies in transmission and distribution continue to restrict access for households and businesses.
“We have the capacity to generate significant megawatts of power daily, but getting that power efficiently distributed remains the major hurdle,” he said.
As part of efforts to address the gap, the governor disclosed that Delta State has enacted a new Electricity Law aimed at strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for power sector reforms.
He added that consultants have been engaged to review existing policies and develop practical, implementable solutions, with a comprehensive report expected shortly.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Sunny Ekedayen, said the reforms are central to a broader strategy to position Delta as an industrial growth hub powered by stable electricity.
Ekedayen revealed that an interim consultants’ report recommended a key overhaul of the state’s electricity laws and policy framework, citing deep-rooted structural weaknesses.
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He said the roadmap would include the creation of a State Electricity Commission to regulate and coordinate the sector, adding that a detailed and actionable plan would be delivered in the coming weeks.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Power Acumen Consulting Ltd, Matthew Edevbie announced a disparity between Delta’s installed power capacity and actual consumption.
Edevbie said the state has about 3,000 megawatts of installed capacity, mainly from facilities in Okpai, Ughelli and Sapele, but currently uses less than 200 megawatts.
He described the proposed “Light Up and Industrialise Delta State Initiative” as an integrated development strategy anchored on reliable electricity.
The MD argued that while the state is well supplied in terms of generation, it lacks sufficient control over transmission and distribution within its territory.
Edevbie called for the development of a state-controlled power grid, insisting that recent regulatory changes now permit subnational governments to establish independent transmission systems.
Such a move, he said, would improve efficiency, unlock existing capacity and create long-term economic value.
“With proper coordination, partnerships and regulatory alignment, Delta State can achieve 24-hour electricity supply in Warri and Asaba before the end of the year,” Edevbie said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Power Acumen Consulting Ltd (PACL), Detail Solicitors, and the Nigeria Infrastructure Bank (NIB).
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