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57% Electricity Consumers On Estimated Billing, NERC Confirms …Says 8.6m MWH Electricity Generated In Q3 Of 2021
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has confirmed that 57.07per cent of electricity consumers in the country were still on estimated billing as at September, 2021.
NERC made this known in its Third Quarter Report 2021, made available to newsmen, yesterday, in Lagos from its website.
The document showed that only Ikeja, Benin, Enugu and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Companies had metered over 50per cent of their customers as at the period
The huge metering gap for end-use customers, according to NERC, remains a key challenge in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
It added that a total of 288,431 meters were installed in 2021/Q3 as compared to the 315,717 meters installed in2021/Q2.
The data showed that out of the 11,069,200 registered energy customers as at September, 2021, only 4,753,027 (42.93per cent) have been metered compared to 4,404,013 (39.08per cent) metered as at June, 2021 out of 11,058,939 registered customers.
According to the document, the metering status of the DisCos as at September, 2021 is: Benin DisCo, 54.54per cent; Abuja, 45.10per cent; Eko, 43.24per cent; Ikeja, 63.96per cent and Enugu, 55.49per cent.
Others are: Port Harcourt, 54.81per cent; Ibadan, 37.64per cent; Jos, 29.12per cent; Kaduna, 21.84per cent; Kano, 27.64per cent; and Yola, 17.19per cent.
It said as a safeguard against over-billing of unmetered customers via estimated billing, the commission had set maximum limits to the amount of energy (in kWh) that may be estimated against an unmetered customer on a feeder.
The report said this depends on the customer category and tariff band with the maximum limits computed based on three months data of actual consumption records of metered customers according to customer category and tariff band.
The document also provided update on the efforts of NERC to close the metering gap in the country through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
It said: “The MAP initiative has since its inception metered a total of 591,223 customers.
“Similarly, the NMMP is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria launched in 2021 to rapidly bridge the metering gap in the NESI.
“This is a policy intervention with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the provision of long-term (10-year tenure) single-digit interest loans to DisCos strictly for the provision of meters to customers.
“This policy provides that only local meter manufacturers or assemblers shall participate in the NMMP.
“Customers are metered on DisCo’s own account without paying for the meters by customers except through end-user tariffs.
“The NMMP has since its inception metered a total number of 793,978 customers.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that a total of 8.693million Megawatts-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated in the third quarter of 2021.
NERC made this known in its Third Quarter Report 2021 posted on its website, yesterday.
The regulatory agency said: “the total quarterly generation in 2021/Q3 was 8.6million MWh.
“This is a decrease of 211,903.73MWh (-2.38per cent) compared to the total generation of 8,905,673.76MWh in 2021/Q2.”
According to NERC, the total generation of Shiroro plant increased appreciably by 113,216MWh (+107.58per cent) during the period under review.
The commission, however said those of Egbin, Okpai and Geregu gas plant declined by 149,379.43MWh (-28.15per cent), 146,275MWh (52.54per cent) and 93,808.82MWh (-38.06per cent), respectively, compared to 2021/Q2.
It attributed the decline in operational performance in 2021/Q3 to the unavailability of some generating units due to faults such as oil leakage, high thrust bearing temperature and high rotor vibration among others.
NERC said maintenance and shortages of gas supply also contributed to the decline in performance.
”To improve this performance, the commission continued consultations with relevant stakeholders to develop lasting solutions to gas supply and other challenges that continue to impede capacity utilisation and ultimately electricity generation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
“The commission is also working with the System Operator (SO) towards the creation of spinning reserves to improve the grid’s overall frequency stability,” it said.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.