Beks Dagogo Jack has dismissed the Federal Government 90 day power reform target as unrealistic. He argues that Nigerias power sector problems run too deep for any quick fixes.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Saturday, the former presidential task force chairman said the sectors severe level of decay makes any expectation of a rapid turnaround emotional at best.
While he views the idea of fixing the power sector in three months as impractical, he noted that the period could still prove useful if it delivers a clear policy direction. This would reassure investors and set the right tone for long term reforms.
Dagogo Jack stressed that Nigeria urgently needs a structured roadmap rather than a rushed transformation. This roadmap should clearly define the governments direction and attract both local and international investment into the sector.
He explained that the power sector deterioration is so deep that a 90 day turnaround will not happen. However if the 90 days produce a mission statement and a clear direction that builds confidence in the investing community and among Nigerians, he can support that approach. He added that such mobilisation will change the story.
Dagogo Jack commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating a necessary reset of the power reform process even though it came later than expected. He described the decision as commendable because the country needed the reset.
The energy expert expressed cautious confidence in the newly appointed officials overseeing the sector. He said their professional backgrounds suggest they have the capacity to deliver results if properly coordinated. He questioned why they were not appointed earlier for such a sensitive issue and noted that the names indicate they can do the job.
Dagogo Jack warned however that success will depend on cooperation between the key actors. He stressed that internal rivalry could derail the reform efforts.
He urged the two new appointees in the power sector to work with unity of purpose. They must be on the same page from day one, share responsibilities clearly, and avoid territorial battles because reform cannot survive in that kind of environment.
Dagogo Jack called for a detailed technical assessment of the power sector to identify its core failures before any major intervention. He warned that without such diagnostics, policy interventions would likely miss the root of the problem. He emphasised the need for an intense, honest, deliberate, and intentional diagnostic of the current situation on the ground. Understanding where the problems are is essential before designing solutions.
The former taskforce chairman emphasised the importance of developing a credible reform model. This model should be presented not just to Nigerians but to global experts and investors as proof of serious intent. Validating the model would signal seriousness and invite investors to engage.
He identified the electricity distribution segment as the weakest link in the entire value chain. He said it requires urgent restructuring to stabilise the whole system and improve the health of the value chain.
Dagogo Jack called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments in implementing the Electricity Act 2023. He warned that many states currently lack the capacity to run independent electricity markets. He advised developing a model to assist states in building regional electricity markets. Since states lack experience, pilot programmes at federal and state levels would help others learn and replicate success.
Rejecting quick fix solutions, he said Nigeria must adopt structural reforms even if they take time. Meaningful change cannot come from superficial interventions or low hanging fruit approaches because the deterioration is structural and fixing it requires structural solutions that take time.
He cautioned against over reliance on government funding. Investors cannot be stampeded and the Federal Government should not keep pushing treasury money into a sector that has capacity for private sector leadership and efficiency. He noted that this approach has never worked.
Dagogo Jack concluded that while expectations must remain realistic, a clear roadmap backed by coordinated reform and investment could gradually reposition Nigerias struggling power sector.
