Senator Danjuma Goje has called on the federal government to consider handing over the management of Nigeria's power sector to China for a period of 20 years. Speaking during the Senate plenary session on May 6, 2026, the Gombe Central Senatorial District representative argued that this drastic measure could resolve the country's persistent electricity challenges.
Goje's Proposal for Power Sector
Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, advised the government to concession the entire power infrastructure to China. He emphasized that Nigeria must swallow its pride and admit that current international solutions have failed. According to him, China's low execution costs and expertise could guarantee stable power supply, which would translate into tangible development for the nation.
“The best thing to do, in my opinion and in the opinion of some others, is to swallow our pride and call on one of the major, successful, advanced nations, preferably China, give them this project of power in Nigeria to run it for 20 years,” Goje stated.
The senator made these remarks while addressing the incoming Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, during his Senate screening. Goje criticized the segmented approach to generation, transmission, and distribution, noting that it has not yielded results and that a new strategy is necessary.
Challenges and Reactions
While Goje's suggestion may face severe challenges, particularly given that power is tied to national security, the current abysmal situation has led many to demand drastic actions. Nigeria has struggled with generation capacity dropping below 3,000 megawatts in 2026, with several thermal plants operating below capacity or shutting down due to gas shortages and unpaid debts.
President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Joseph Tegbe, 60, as the new Minister of Power, replacing Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to pursue the Oyo State governorship. During his screening, Tegbe promised to fix the national grid collapse within three months. He was cautioned by Senator Abaribe about the so-called “generator cabal,” which he described as the biggest generator marketers in the world, expected to resist reforms.
Debt and Subsidy Issues
The federal government has reviewed its debt to power-generating companies, placing it at 3 trillion naira, with presidential approval for payment. However, a backlog of subsidies on power supply is estimated at 6 trillion naira. Nigerians will closely watch Tegbe's performance, and President Tinubu, who has staked his re-election on delivering uninterrupted power, will rely on his new minister for tangible results.
