A President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, has said Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to suffer massive revenue losses due to widespread energy theft and outdated metering systems.

Olubiyo stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, noting that energy theft occurs across the electricity value chain, including at consumer and institutional levels.

According to him, consumers engage in practices such as metre bypass, illegal connections, and unauthorised access to electricity without proper billing.

He explained that some users directly connect underground cables to their homes or businesses to avoid being metered, while others take advantage of estimated billing systems to consume electricity without payment.

“Whether through metre bypass or illegal connection, many customers are using electricity for free. That is energy theft,” he said.

Olubiyo also raised concerns over institutional energy theft within the sector, saying defective or obsolete meters used at key points in the generation, transmission, and distribution chain contribute to inaccurate readings and revenue losses.

He added that some wholesale meters installed at critical interfaces between GenCos, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and DisCos are outdated or poorly configured, leading to discrepancies in recorded electricity supply.

“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,” he stated.

The expert further alleged that some operators exploit maintenance and repair contracts through inflated costs and possible collusion in the repair of damaged infrastructure.

Olubiyo also pointed to cases where faulty transformers remain unrepaired for years due to financial constraints within distribution companies, forcing communities and governments to intervene.

He warned that illegal and unsafe connections pose serious safety risks, including electrocution, fire outbreaks, and network failures caused by dangerous “back-feeding.”

To address the crisis, he called for the adoption of modern technologies such as smart metering, grid telemetry systems, GPS-enabled monitoring, and advanced check meters.

Olubiyo stressed that technology, stronger regulation, improved investment, and anti-corruption measures are essential to stabilise Nigeria’s power sector.

He warned that without urgent reforms, the country’s electricity industry would continue to face liquidity challenges, revenue losses, and unstable power supply.