The Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing (MPWH) in Nigeria is one of the country’s most crucial government entities, overseeing three key sectors: energy, infrastructure, and housing. Established in 2016 by merging three separate ministries, the MPWH was intended to streamline operations and reduce administrative costs. However, this consolidation posed significant challenges, leading to criticisms of inefficiency and overload due to the extensive nature of its responsibilities.
Initially, the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing functioned as three independent ministries: the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Housing. The merger of these ministries was introduced during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term, as part of a broader restructuring of the government. The goal was to centralize the management of vital sectors, which are integral to Nigeria’s infrastructure development and economic growth.
This restructuring assigned former Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola to head the newly-formed “super ministry.” Fashola’s experience as governor, where he was known for infrastructure projects in Lagos, seemed ideal for the role. Despite this, the performance of the MPWH under his leadership was mixed, with notable criticism regarding the nation’s power challenges.
One of the most significant responsibilities of the ministry was managing Nigeria’s power sector. Electricity has long been a major obstacle for the country, with supply lagging far behind demand. With an estimated population of over 200 million, Nigeria’s energy generation capacity is woefully inadequate, providing around 5,000 MW compared to much higher numbers in countries with comparable or larger populations, such as India and the United States.
The failure to adequately address Nigeria’s energy crisis has hindered industrial growth, affected the quality of life, and contributed to the widespread use of private generators. Despite various reforms, including the privatization of power distribution companies (DisCos), progress has been slow. The DisCos struggle to distribute power because the generation of electricity itself remains insufficient. As a result, Nigerians continue to face erratic power supply, and businesses suffer from increased operational costs due to reliance on backup generators.
Challenges in the Works and Housing Sectors
While the power sector often receives the most attention, the Ministry’s responsibilities over roads and housing are equally vital. Nigeria’s infrastructure, particularly its road network, has suffered from decades of underfunding, corruption, and inadequate maintenance. The Federal Ministry of Works was tasked with managing thousands of kilometers of federal highways, many of which remain in poor condition, hindering transportation and economic activities.
Similarly, the Ministry’s role in housing has been critical in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. With a rapidly growing urban population, the demand for affordable housing continues to outpace supply. Successive governments have launched housing projects aimed at providing low-cost homes to Nigerians, but many of these initiatives have been criticized for falling short of their targets. Land acquisition challenges, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and funding constraints have slowed down progress in this sector.
Recognizing the inefficiencies in managing three major sectors under one ministry, President Buhari’s administration decided to split the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing into separate entities again during his second term. This decision, taken in 2019, aimed to improve the efficiency of governance and ensure that each sector received focused attention. The separation allowed for the appointment of specialized ministers to oversee power, works, and housing independently.
This restructuring was part of a broader effort by the Buhari administration to enhance governance by creating more targeted ministries, including new entities such as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.
Since the unbundling, each sector has undertaken reforms, though challenges remain. The power sector continues to face issues with generation and distribution, as well as with the country’s aging transmission infrastructure. Efforts to expand renewable energy sources, including solar power, are ongoing but have yet to make a significant impact on the national grid.
The works sector, particularly road infrastructure, has seen incremental improvements with ongoing projects aimed at rehabilitating key highways. Nonetheless, funding constraints and corruption continue to hinder large-scale development efforts.
There have been renewed attempts to address the growing deficit in the housing sector, particularly by encouraging private-sector participation and improving mortgage access. Public-private partnerships are being promoted as a solution to drive investment and increase the housing stock.
The Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing played a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape during its brief existence. While the initial merger was intended to streamline operations, it eventually proved unwieldy, re-establishing separate ministries for each sector. The unbundling has allowed for more focused governance, but substantial challenges remain in all three areas—power, works, and housing. Nigeria’s ability to tackle these issues will be essential for its economic development and the well-being of its citizens.
