Energy
At GOCOP Confab: Liyel Imoke says alleged expenditure of a phantom $16b delayed Nigeria’s power sector reforms
Imoke, who was also Chairman of the Power Sector Technical Board under the Obasanjo administration, stated this as a matter of fact in his keynote at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed: “Nigeria: Tackling insecurity, power deficit, and transitioning to digital economy.”
Admitting that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), as it then was, was a monopoly, he said that electricity distribution was also a monopoly even as the execution of so many programmes faced various challenges.
He referred to the undue delay in implementation of the power sector reforms, which resulted from the probe of the claim of a phantom expenditure of $16 billion on the sector under the administration.
According to him: “The power sector probe took about two years. The delay led to huge cost overruns; doubling costs of various contracts awarded during my tenure. Several of these projects were delayed in completion. As we speak, we still have several IPP projects that are ongoing.”
He said that at the end of the probe, they found out that there was no missing $16b, but lamented that the alleged expenditure of the phantom $16b had been used as a political tool to criticize “those of us in government.”
Imoke fingered inadequate information as the trigger for the allegation, pointing out that, for instance, on his watch as Minister of Power, the actual spending was between $2b and $3b, much of which went to the original electric manufacturer.
The former power minister said that insecurity, power deficit, and the slowness in Nigeria’s transition to a full digital economy were challenges impeding national growth and development.
According to him: “These are challenges that impede our growth as a nation. They make us less globally competitive. If you look at electricity insecurity and digital economy and if we tackle these, we will be on our way to economic growth.”
He said to unlock Nigeria’s potential, the administration must tackle insecurity, noting that there had been insurgency and the emergence of Boko Haram, which split into ISWAP.
“We have experienced banditry, kidnapping, armed killings, mass kidnapping, and illegal mining. These days, we can’t go to a gathering of this magnitude without seeing someone who had been kidnapped before. This is one of our new realities,” he stated.
He implicated ethnic tension as a contributory cause of communal violence, adding that grievances in the Niger Delta caused a lot of insecurity in the region in the 2000s.
Imoke spoke about organized private crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, which created insecurity in the area and the separatist marginalization in the southeast region, leading to agitation
He stated that, for instance, between 2009 and 2020, insurgency by Boko Haram alone resulted in over 40,000 deaths.
Imoke listed poverty, high unemployment rate, which was in 1999 put at six per cent, in 2022 put at 22 per cent but which as of today is approaching 40 per cent, weak governance and corruption as well as climate change, as some of the factors that contributed or fuelled insecurity in the country.
He also listed proliferation of small arms and violent crimes across the country as a sore thumb, lamenting that there were more arms with some non-state actors put in their hands by desperate politicians and which at the end of elections, were not retrieved from them and on which they now depended to survive.
Saying that hope was not lost, Imoke declared that successive administrations had succeeded in degrading Boko Haram and recovering territories in the Northeast hitherto seized by the group.
According to him, “The military was able to degrade the group and reclaim the areas in the Northeast around Maiduguri.”
He listed other successes as the decrease in Boko Haram insurgency and deaths by 23 per cent according to the global terrorism index, adding that “there is also reduction of militancy in the Niger Delta as there is no more MEND in the region.”
He continued: “Oil production has significantly rebounded until recently because during the era of MEND, oil production dropped below 1.5 m barrels per day.
“There is anti-piracy measure launched through NIMASA and international collaborators to reduce the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy decreased by 58 per cent between 2020 and 2021 in the Gulf of Guinea.
“In the Southeast, the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu is an achievement in the region…Nigerian government has increased its surveillance measures; its counter insurgency operation has been used in combating terrorism. We now have drone technology and others to attack security issues across the board. The persistent Boko Haram issue has been watered down, but there is a humanitarian issue. About 2.7m people have been affected. The UN said that 350,000 people have died as a result of insurgency.”
He, however, noted that Herder-farmers’ conflict was still ongoing, pointing out that over 2,600 people were reportedly killed in 2021 alone.
The former Cross River State governor said that continued separatist agitation had led to the death of police officers as well as IPoB members, adding that there had been extra judicial killings and arbitrary arrests, among others.
He said a multifaceted approach was required to effectively tackle security issues in Nigeria, recommending among others community policing, which should be legally regulated, deployment of vigilance groups in securing the communities, and giving consideration to decentralisation of security rather than centralisation that has not worked.
He also established a nexus between security and economy, arguing that “until we can address the state of our economy, we will not able to address security issues effectively.”
He stated that education, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and access to SMES funding were key, adding that a strong and comprehensive rural development programme was necessary to address banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
“I am a strong believer in peace and mediation. If the government can establish dialogue platforms between farmers and herders, it would reduce competition over land,” he said.
He also said that the procurement process must be transparent and resources should be deployed in the welfare and training of security personnel, adding that the nation’s judicial system must be able to tackle impunity.
While dwelling on power deficit, Imoke said that there was a lack of continuation of policies and programmes, pointing out that “your predecessor is your most valuable material. We always assume that our predecessor did not know anything, and there is a tendency to want to start afresh. It is important for me to always go back to my predecessor to ask for guidance.”
Admitting that electricity problem in Nigeria is the most humongous problem ever, Imoke said that with over 200 million Nigerians, the country’s installed capacity was like 13,000 megawatts. He said: “It sounds like good news, but we only manage to distribute an average of 4,000 megawatts whereas there are potential distributable 20,000 megawatts.”
He reeled out some sobering comparative statistics about per capita electricity consumption by Nigeria and some countries on the African continent based on recent data.
According to the data referred to by Imoke, “Nigeria per capita electricity consumption is between 150 and 200 kilowatts hours per year (kilowatts hour is the amount of electricity delivered to each household in the country in a year); Ghana is between 800 and 1000 kilowatts hour per year; South Africa is between 4000 and 5000 kilowatts hours per year while Ivory coast is between 500 and 600 kilowatts hour per year.”
Imoke lamented the Nigerian situation, adding that “these tell you the strengths of industrial bases of these countries.”
He, however, noted that despite numerous reforms in Nigeria, the power sector had continued to struggle.
Imoke asked if there was a solution in the face of growing demand? He resolved the question somewhat in the negative, pointing out that with the exponential growth in Nigerian’s population, there was a concomitant rising demand on the electricity supply.
On the transitioning to digital economy, Imoke said the growth in e-commerce platforms like Jumia and others was allowing for competition and efficiency.
According to him: “We are in the fourth industrial revolution, and it is a digital revolution. We missed out on the first, second, and third industrial revolutions. It is for us now as a nation, with a deliberateness of government policy, not to lose out on the fourth industrial revolution.
“All the three sectors-security, power and digital economy – are critical to our growth. The three are intertwined challenges that Nigerian must address to unlock her potential.
“With the collective effort of all, Nigerian can truly emerge as a global leader. Let us seize this moment to build a secure, electrified, and digitalized Nigerian that offers prosperity, growth, and development to all.”
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has withdrawn from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader OPEC+ alliance.
The move marks a significant shift in global oil politics even as tensions in the Middle East continue unabated.
The decision, which will take effect from May 1, 2026, was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, following what it described as a comprehensive review of its production strategy and future energy outlook.
Announcing the move, the ministry said the exit reflects the country’s evolving energy priorities and long-term economic vision.
The statement read, “The United Arab Emirates today announced its decision to exit the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC and OPEC+), effective 1 May 2026. This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets.
“This decision follows a comprehensive review of the UAE’s production policy and its current and future capacity and is based on our national interest and our commitment to contributing effectively to meeting the market’s pressing needs.”
The UAE, one of OPEC’s key producers, noted that the decision was anchored on national interest and its desire to respond more flexibly to changing market realities.
“The decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets,” the ministry added.
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The announcement comes against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly the ongoing Iran conflict, which has disrupted oil supply routes and heightened uncertainty in global energy markets.
Of particular concern is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s crude supply passes. Recent threats and attacks linked to the crisis have raised fears of supply disruptions and price volatility.
The UAE acknowledged these short-term disruptions but maintained that long-term demand fundamentals remain strong.
“While near-term volatility, including disruptions in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, continues to affect supply dynamics, underlying trends point to sustained growth in global energy demand over the medium to long term,” the statement noted.
The move effectively ends nearly six decades of the UAE’s involvement in OPEC, which it joined in 1967 through Abu Dhabi, years before the formation of the federation in 1971.
Despite the exit, the UAE expressed appreciation for the organisation and its allies.
“We reaffirm our appreciation for the efforts of both OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance and wish them success. During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all,” the ministry stated.
“However, the time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates and our commitment to our investors, customers, partners and global energy markets.”
The UAE stressed that its withdrawal does not signal a retreat from global energy cooperation but rather a shift towards greater flexibility in managing its oil output.
It pledged to continue supplying the market in a responsible and measured manner.
“Following its exit, the UAE will continue to act responsibly, bringing additional production to market in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions,” the statement said.
The country also highlighted its competitive advantage in producing lower-carbon crude, positioning itself as a key supplier in an evolving global energy mix.
“The UAE is a trusted producer of some of the world’s most cost-competitive and lower-carbon barrels, which will play an important role in supporting global growth and emissions reduction,” it added.
The exit could weaken OPEC’s cohesion and complicate efforts to manage global oil supply, especially at a time when geopolitical risks are already straining the system.
The alliance, which includes major non-OPEC producers such as Russia, has been central to stabilising oil prices since its formation in 2016.
However, rising tensions in the Middle East, coupled with shifting national priorities among member states, are increasingly testing the group’s unity.
The UAE said it would continue investing across the energy value chain, including oil, gas, renewables, and low-carbon technologies, as part of a broader diversification strategy.
“It will continue investing across the energy value chain, including oil, gas, renewables, and low-carbon solutions, to support resilience and long-term energy system transformation,” the ministry stated.
The development comes at a critical time for the global economy, with energy markets already under pressure from geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and the ongoing transition to cleaner energy sources.
For oil-dependent economies such as Nigeria, the implications are significant, as changes within OPEC and OPEC+ often influence crude prices, government revenues, and foreign exchange earnings, the developments present a mixed outlook, with potential revenue gains from higher crude prices but increased costs for refined petroleum products and broader economic instability.
The UAE’s decision could signal a broader shift in how major producers approach cooperation in an increasingly complex energy landscape.
As the Middle East crisis continues to unfold, attention will now turn to how OPEC responds to the exit, and whether the alliance can maintain unity in the face of mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is one of the world’s most influential energy alliances, created in 1960 by five founding members, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, during a meeting in Baghdad.
The group was established to coordinate petroleum policies among oil-producing countries, stabilise international oil markets, secure fair prices for producers, and ensure a steady supply of crude to consuming nations.
Over the decades, OPEC grew into a major force in the global economy, with its decisions on oil production often influencing crude prices worldwide. By increasing or cutting output quotas, the group can affect supply levels, making it a central player in determining global energy costs.
Its current members include major producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, and Iraq.
While, OPEC+ is an expanded alliance formed in 2016 to include OPEC members and major non-OPEC oil-producing countries.
The “plus” refers to 10 additional producers led by Russia, alongside countries such as Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Oman.
The alliance was created after the 2014–2016 oil price crash, when crude prices plunged due to oversupply and weak demand.
Their monthly meetings are closely watched by governments, investors, refiners, and energy traders because any decision to raise or cut output can immediately influence international crude benchmarks such as Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate.
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) has advanced plans to provide dedicated electricity supply to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park in Odukpani, Cross River State, through a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The collaboration, which began with the submission of an Expression of Interest by the customer in 2025, has now progressed to a major engagement held on 25 February 2026, marking a critical step toward project execution and delivery.
Under the arrangement, as stated in a statement signed by NDPHC’s Head of Corporate Communications and External Relations, Emmanuel Ojor, NDPHC will supply 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity from its Calabar Generation Company Limited.
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The dedicated power provision is expected to ensure a stable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply for industrial operations within the park, addressing one of the key constraints to manufacturing and processing activities in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Park in Odukpani is conceived as a strategic industrial hub aimed at supporting downstream oil and gas operators.
The facility is expected to facilitate the production, processing, and distribution of refined petroleum products and gas-based materials, while also promoting local manufacturing of equipment and components used in the sector.
A call has gone to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) the members of the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) to start participating in the next oil block licensing round as a strategic option for securing affordable crude feedstock for their refineries.
The Chief Executive, NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made the on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by members of CORAN to the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where both parties held discussions on strengthening domestic refining capacity, crude supply sustainability, and collaboration between upstream producers and local refiners.
According to Eyesan greater participation of indigenous refiners in upstream asset ownership would help create more stable and commercially viable crude supply arrangements, while also deepening local participation across the petroleum value chain.
She further assured members of CORAN that Nigeria has sufficient crude resources to support domestic refining ambitions and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to promoting policies that prioritize in-country value addition.
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Eyesan therefore encouraged refinery operators to enter into long-term crude supply contracts with producers as a practical mechanism for ensuring predictable feedstock availability, operational planning, and pricing stability.
The NUPRC Chief however, acknowledged that infrastructure limitations must be tackled before the country can witness seamless crude supply to local refineries. She identified issues such as inadequate pipeline networks, evacuation bottlenecks, storage constraints, marine logistics, and other supply chain gaps as areas requiring urgent investment and coordinated action.
Members of CORAN used the visit to commend the Commission’s ongoing regulatory reforms and its support for domestic refining development, while also emphasizing the need for stronger implementation of frameworks that guarantee regular crude supply to local plants.
Industry stakeholders have increasingly argued that improved access to crude feedstock remains central to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, strengthening energy security, conserving foreign exchange, and creating jobs through the growth of local refining capacity.
The meeting is seen as another step in ongoing engagements between regulators and private refinery operators aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
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