JP Attueyi, a foremost authority in enterprise IT and digital transformation, has urged a sweeping modernization of Nigeria’s electricity sector to drive economic advancement and operational efficiency.
Having spearheaded the digital overhaul at Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Attueyi emphasized that Nigeria’s sustainable economic progress hinges on the power industry’s full embrace of cutting-edge digital tools to boost operational performance, enhance customer experience, and increase revenue streams.
During a recent industry forum, he highlighted that Nigeria’s journey toward industrialization and economic revitalization is contingent upon the rapid adoption of technology-driven upgrades within its electricity infrastructure.
He praised the World Bank’s digital economy initiative as a “strategic and timely catalyst” poised to elevate Africa’s global competitiveness, noting Nigeria’s advantage due to its youthful demographic and burgeoning technology sector.
“To truly harness the digital economy, Nigeria must expedite development across five critical areas: digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital financial services, digital entrepreneurship, and digital skills,” Attueyi asserted.
Despite Nigeria’s vast developmental potential, he pointed out that the persistent electricity shortfall remains a formidable obstacle. Approximately 85 million Nigerians-about 36% of the population-still lack access to the national grid, placing Nigeria among the countries with the largest energy access deficits worldwide.
He stressed that with the population expected to surpass 377 million by 2050, the demand for electricity will intensify, making the modernization and digital transformation of the power sector an urgent priority.
Attueyi further explained that the stability and reliability of power supply are foundational to the growth of key economic sectors such as technology, manufacturing, agritech, and data services. He contrasted Nigeria’s current electricity generation capacity of roughly 4,500MW with Egypt’s 38,000MW, underscoring the significant gap despite Nigeria’s larger population.
“For distribution companies to meet escalating demand and support emerging industries, they must adopt advanced, intelligent technologies to enhance efficiency,” he noted.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms like the N700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed project to deploy 4.3 million meters by 2025 as pivotal moves toward digitalization, aimed at improving power delivery, billing precision, and customer satisfaction.
Looking ahead, Attueyi identified the development of innovative grid systems as essential for Nigeria’s energy future. Such advancements will facilitate efficient power distribution, integration of renewable energy sources, and grid adaptability, while empowering consumers with real-time energy usage data and demand-response capabilities.
Regarding the structure of Nigeria’s electricity market, he observed that the country’s 11 distribution companies (Discos) are unique within Africa, offering both benefits and challenges. While decentralization fosters innovation and regional expertise, it has also led to operational fragmentation and uneven service quality.
“Technology is the key to overcoming these challenges. Implementing smart grid technologies and unified commercial management platforms can enhance coordination and efficiency across this segmented sector,” Attueyi concluded.
