The National Assembly House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation is intensifying a bill to combat energy theft in Nigeria’s power sector. The legislation will introduce stricter penalties, improved enforcement, and better protection of electricity assets.

During an oversight visit to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Committee Chairman Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim stressed that energy theft and unpaid government debts are major obstacles to efficient electricity distribution. He assured support for recovering outstanding debts owed by federal and state agencies to improve sector liquidity.

IBEDC CEO Engr. Francis Agoha highlighted the company’s infrastructure investments since privatisation, including network expansion and metering, but noted that theft, vandalism, and unpaid debts continue to hinder service delivery. The Committee also inspected key IBEDC distribution facilities to evaluate operational performance and regulatory compliance.