ABUJA – As Nigerians endure persistent blackouts despite billions of naira in public spending, security expert and global affairs analyst Dr. Jackson Lekan Ojo has endorsed the House of Representatives’ newly constituted Ad-hoc Committee on Power Sector Reform, urging a rigorous forensic audit of the sector’s expenditures since 2007.
Reacting to the panel’s inauguration on Monday, Dr Ojo described the development as a pivotal opportunity to break the cycle of failed investigations that have plagued the electricity value chain for nearly two decades. He placed particular confidence in the committee’s chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu (Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency, Sokoto), whom he characterised as disciplined, transparent, and professionally equipped to conduct a credible inquiry.
“For many years, Nigerians have become sceptical of probe panels established by the House because they have failed to deliver tangible results. That disappointment has perpetuated the sector’s challenges,” Ojo stated. “I believe the 10th National Assembly has made the right decision. From my findings, Hon. Aliyu possesses the capacity to lead an investigation that can drive lasting reform.”
The committee has been mandated to scrutinise policies, interventions, and capital outlays implemented between 2007 and 2024—a period marked by recurrent grid collapses, tariff controversies, and opaque fiscal management. Ojo stressed that the assignment transcends a routine inquiry; rather, it represents a rare chance to diagnose systemic failures, enforce accountability, and establish a credible blueprint for improving generation, transmission, and distribution nationwide.
While acknowledging widespread public apathy towards previous parliamentary probes, the analyst urged citizens to rally behind the current effort. He expressed optimism that the committee’s findings, if acted upon with political will, could finally herald the sectoral transformation that has long eluded Africa’s most populous nation.
