Energy theft, costing the country about N100 billion quarterly, will reduce, if the country creates a theft registry, a non-government organisation, Power Up Nigeria, has said. Director of the power sector advocacy group, Adetayo Adegbemle stated that energy theft remained a pandemic to the power sector, which must urgently be addressed. In the first three months of 2021, the 11 electricity distribution companies operating in the country said a total of N97 billion was lost to energy theft, capping of estimated billing and other factors. The amount lost by the power firms rose by 12.79 per cent in Q1 2021 from N86 billion in Q4 2020.

Adegbemle advocated that culprits could be found in every facet and cadres of the society as top ranking and highly placed Nigerians engaged in the act. “As we have customers hell bent on cheating the system, so do we have staff of DisCos actively recommending ways to steal energy from their organisations. It has remained a serious issue and it feels like there’s no solution in sight. But I believe there are ways we can approach this menace,” he said. According to him, Energy Theft Offenders list should be created with the type of energy theft and actions that were taken. He noted that the stigma of being on an Energy Theft Registry may deter anyone who wants to or approached to do it, as the registry would easily point out repeated offenders and determine the weight of discipline or fine they receive for repeated offences. According to him, being on such a list will limit people to some social services and benefits from the community. Adegbemle also advocated a mobile or special court that has constitutionally provided an easy and fast timeline to try and impose appropriate severe penalties for cases of energy theft and vandalism.