Energy thieves continue to loot Nigeria’s electricity industry, leaving consumers in darkness and the sector in deep financial trouble.
Mr Kunle Olubiyo, President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, raises the alarm on Monday, May 25, 2026, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He reveals that massive revenue losses hit the power sector daily because of widespread energy theft and old metering systems.
Olubiyo explains that theft happens at every level from homes to big institutions. At the consumer end, people bypass meters, make illegal connections, and dig underground cables straight to their houses. Many enjoy free electricity through estimated billing tricks.
“Whether through meter bypass or illegal connection, many customers use electricity for free. That is energy theft,” he states.
He also points at institutional theft inside the sector. Obsolete and faulty meters at generation, transmission, and distribution points give wrong readings. This leads to inflated subsidy claims.
“If 4,000 megawatts is generated and 7,000 megawatts is recorded, that is energy theft because the excess energy does not get to consumers,” Olubiyo says.
The expert adds that some operators inflate repair contracts for vandalised towers and collapsed infrastructure. Distribution companies lack money to fix transformers, so many remain faulty for years. Communities sometimes raise millions for repairs without success.
Illegal connections create serious dangers. They cause electrocution, fires, and network collapse.
Olubiyo calls for urgent action. He wants smart meters, modern monitoring technology, and strict enforcement of the Electricity Act to stop the losses. Without quick fixes, Nigeria will continue to face unstable power and liquidity problems.
