Abuja, July 9, 2025 — The Nigerian Senate has begun the second reading of the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeking to strengthen sector governance by criminalising vandalism, clarifying regulatory boundaries, and improving institutional frameworks.
Sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Chair of the Senate Committee on Power, the amendment addresses urgent issues in Nigeria’s electricity landscape. The existing 2023 Electricity Act created regulatory confusion following power devolution to states, as well as a mounting ₦4 trillion debt and widespread infrastructure sabotage—described by Abaribe as a sector “hanging on a cliff.”
Key proposals include:
Criminalisation of electricity infrastructure vandalism, with calls for harsher penalties—including maximum and, controversially, capital punishment in severe cases .
Clarification of regulatory roles between the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state-level regulators under the new concurrent powers framework .
Restructuring of the Power Consumer Assistance Fund to ensure targeted subsidies for vulnerable communities .
Formal recognition of new bodies such as the Forum of Electricity Regulators and the National Electric Power Policy Council to improve coordination and oversight .
Senator Mohammed Monguno (Borno North) likened the amendment’s impact to the landmark Petroleum Industry Act, citing its revolutionary scope . Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) advocated for capital punishment for vandals, describing the destruction of power assets as national sabotage .
Senate President Godswill Akpabio affirmed the amendment’s critical role in securing Nigeria’s industrial future, warning that uninterrupted electricity is vital for growth. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Power, with the Senate demanding a report within six weeks, marking the next phase of the legislative process .