Energy expert Nick Agule has blamed Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis on what he calls incompetent operators running the power sector.

Speaking in a recent media interview, Agule did not hold back, saying the entire value chain is in the wrong hands. He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively and remove what he described as the “cancer” in the sector.

Agule specifically pointed to the electricity distribution companies, or Discos, as the main problem. He argued that they are the ones who sell power and collect money, yet they fail to perform.

According to him, their failure to generate enough revenue creates a ripple effect that starves transmission companies and power generation firms of funds. He questioned why a proper business would need the World Bank to buy meters and transformers for its customers.

The expert also linked the crisis to the collapse of a $750 million World Bank loan for the Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO). He explained that the second tranche of the loan became unsustainable following the naira devaluation and foreign exchange reforms. However, he insisted that the deeper problem is not just about money but about the structure of the market and the performance of its operators.

Agule compared Nigeria’s power sector to other industries that succeed without government bailouts. He noted that businesses like telecom companies and the Dangote Refinery source their own funding and deliver results. He questioned why the power sector cannot do the same and called on the president to act firmly against underperforming operators.

For now, Nigerians continue to grapple with poor electricity supply despite the government’s reform efforts. Agule’s strong words have added to the growing calls for a complete overhaul of the sector. Whether President Tinubu will take his advice remains to be seen. But for the expert and many frustrated citizens, the message is clear: incompetent operators must go for the lights to stay on.