Post-Privatization Power Sector Performance: X-Raying The Experiences Of Customers In Enugu State South-East Nigeria
OLISE, Charles Nnamdi
Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
AMUJIRI, Benjamin A. Ph.D
Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
EMEH Ikechukwu Eke
Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
UGWUIBE, Christopher Onyemaechi (Ph.D)
Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Keywords: Post-privatization, power sector, Performance, Theory of Change, Nigeria, energy supply, metering, billing
Abstract
Many countries of the world especially developing countries like Nigeria perceived privatization as magical correctional device to eradicate the ineffectiveness and inefficiencies that marred the operations of state-owned enterprises. This perception is devoid of contextualization of administrative, economic, and political realities of each country. This study examined the performance of Nigerian power sector in the post-privatization era with emphasis on electricity supply, electricity billing/metering and to elicited factors that impede the power sector performance. Utilized both interview instrument and secondary data from official documents, media clips and relevant extant literatures, the researchers found that Nigerian power sector has not improved significantly in terms of electricity supply after privatization with the peak generation and distribution stood at 9,187,337 MWh in 2021 which falls far below the current energy demand of over 40,000.000 MWh by the end users. Also estimated billing and paucity of meter has continued to be recurring issues in Nigerian power sector in the era of post-privatization with 4,772,906 out of 12,784,685 being metered as of 2021. Infrastructural deficits and financial incapacitation are major impediments to the performance of power sector in the post-privatization era. The study proffered viable measures such as diversification of energy source, infrastructure overhauling and effective implementation of Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) to enhance the performance of Nigerian power sector.