A leading energy law expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Oke, has called for urgent decentralisation of Nigeria’s national grid as a long-term solution to the country’s persistent electricity problems.
Prof. Oke submitted his remarks during a speech at the Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference, held on Saturday, where he appeared as a special guest.
The event, themed “The Future of a Decentralized Power Sector in Nigeria,” attracted a high-level audience, including public officials, technocrats, academics, and participants from across the Diaspora.
Rather than deliver a PowerPoint presentation, the professor opted for a fully interactive session, answering questions from participants on all aspects of Nigeria’s power challenges.
The session, described by attendees as a “Masterclass,” covered privatisation, decentralisation, data transparency, and historical reforms.
Prof. Oke pointed out that decentralising Nigeria’s power grid will not only improve energy access and supply but also enhance national security and reduce overreliance on the central transmission system.
He referenced the early power reform efforts of then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which involved collaboration with ENRON in Lagos, describing the cancelled initiative as a missed opportunity that would have set Nigeria on a different path had it not been halted by the Obasanjo administration.
On power sector privatisation under President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Oke agreed with the principle but faulted the implementation, citing contract irregularities and lack of proper frameworks.
“It’s time we stop centralising a broken system,” he said. “What we need is a decentralised, complementary power structure where energy generation and distribution can be adapted to local realities.”
He called for increased support for mini-grids, campus-based generation, and investment in renewable energy as ways to alleviate pressure on the national grid and mitigate the impact of vandalism and outages.
One of the highlights of the session was the participation of the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, whose regular presence at the town halls has been praised as a symbol of responsive governance.
Other attendees included the Director-General of the Nigerian Energy Commission, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, and U.S.-trained analyst Dr. George Agbakahi.
The conference host, Ambassador J.K. Adebola, reaffirmed Renewed Hope Global’s commitment to serving as a credible platform for civic engagement, where Nigerians at home and abroad can connect weekly with policymakers.
Feedback from participants described the session as deeply insightful and timely. One participant noted that Nigeria’s central grid, as currently structured, poses a national risk, while others called for stronger government support to implement decentralised solutions across states and rural communities.
The Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference remains a frontline platform for promoting the reforms of the Tinubu administration and strengthening democratic dialogue between citizens and the government.
