Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, while inaugurating the investigative hearing on Thursday in Abuja, declared that the National Assembly can no longer watch the country suffer perpetual darkness despite repeated promises of reform.

Represented by Hon. Mike Etaba, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, the Speaker described electricity as “the lifeblood of any modern economy,” lamenting that Nigeria remains trapped in a cycle of poor infrastructure, low generation capacity, and chronic blackouts.

“Successive governments have spent trillions, yet Nigerians still rely on generators. This probe is not a witch-hunt; it is a rescue mission to finally fix a sector that has failed our people for far too long,” Abbas said.

Empowered by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, the newly constituted Ad-Hoc Committee will scrutinise every major reform, privatisation deal, and expenditure in the power value chain over the past 17 years.Key questions the probe seeks to answer include:Were the reforms of 2007–2024 properly implemented? 

Were billions invested in generation, transmission, and distribution used judiciously? 

Why has Nigeria’s power supply remained below 5,000 MW for a population of over 200 million?

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Arch. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, told journalists that the investigation will be thorough, transparent, and fearless.

“We are auditing everything from the unbundling of NEPA to the privatisation of DISCOs and GENCOs. No stone will be left unturned,” he assured.

The committee has already invited former ministers, heads of agencies, DISCOs, GENCOs, TCN officials, and international funders to appear and defend their roles.

Speaker Abbas charged members to align their recommendations with global best practices and Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy).

The probe is expected to last several weeks, with public hearings and on-site inspections across the country.