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ARTICLE · 13 FEBRUARY 2014

A Guide To The Nigerian Power Sector

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The first utility company, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company, was established in Nigeria in 1929.

NigeriaEnergy and Natural Resources
Adewale Ajayi
Adewale Ajayi

1 Overview of the Nigerian Power Sector

1.1 History

The first utility company, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company, was established in Nigeria in 1929. However, electricity generation in Nigeria had started over 30 years before the establishment of the first utility back in 1896.

Despite the various efforts of the State-owned utility, (which operated as a monopoly) to manage the sector to provide electricity, it became clear by the late 1990s that the Nigerian electricity system was failing to meet Nigeria's power needs. Hence, the National Electric Power Policy of 2001 kicked off the power sector reform in Nigeria, leading to several other reforms over the last decade.

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