Roadmaps to Effective Electricity Market Reforms: Hidden Potholes and Blind Corners?

摘要

The Federal Government of Nigeria has recently unveiled a "Roadmap" to advance its National Electric Power Policy. This is discussed by Tonye Braide in this month's edition of IELR. Under its auspices, the government seeks to introduce far-reaching changes to the ownership and control of electricity infrastructure in Nigeria, and to create an efficient regulatory regime in the sector. The article addresses the question whether the roadmap "has the necessary elements to transform Nigeria from a capacity short territory into a capacity sufficient country"? The writer answers it in the affirmative, concluding confidently that it incorporates "the material imperatives necessary to attain success". Is that really the case, however? Programmes for electricity market reform can look plausible enough on paper. There have been numerous examples around the world in the past 20 years. Yet the road is always long and tortuous, and the hidden traps, pitfalls and bends that always obstruct the journey can make effective reform a more elusive destination than anvone at first expected.