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Nigeria Needs More Investment To Achieve 195,400Mw Energy Deficit
For Nigerians to enjoy constant electricity supply, there is the need for more investments in the sector that will culminate in the country being able to generate 200,000 MegaWatts (MW).
This means Nigeria needs additional 195,400 megawatts to meet its electricity needs, because it generates an average of 4,600MW for a population of 200 million.
Group Managing Director, Mojec International Limited, Chantelle Abdul, disclosed this at the yearly international conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) in Lagos.
She said low energy generation was responsible for frequent blackouts in the country.
“Based on international standards of 1 GW (1000MW) to one million people, the country is expected to, at least, generate 200GW (200,000MW) to give the population better access to electricity.
“Nigeria has the capacity to generate 12.5GW (12,000MW) of electricity, but owing to different reasons, the 29 generation companies (GenCos) are only able to generate, transmit and distribute between 3GW to 5GW (3,000MW to 5,000MW)”, Abdul said.
She said Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces surging electricity demand owing to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.
According to her, before 2023, there were 26 gas-powered plants and three hydro plants, but the approval of 11 new GenCos in the year had taken the electricity generating plants to 40, with the country’s transmission wheeling capacity standing at about 8.1 GW (8,100MW).
She expressed hope that the new Electricity Act would pave way for more investment into the sector to allow states to generate, transmit and distribute their electricity.
Egbin has the highest capacity as a gas plant to produce 1.39GW (1,390MW), and Kainji Jebba Power Plc has the highest capacity as a Hydro plant to produce 1.33GW (1, 330MW).
Abdul said solar plants could be introduced to the state governments to serve as a means to generate electricity for their various regions.
In a related development, Nigeria will need about $25 billion of yearly investment in the next 10 years to achieve crude oil output of 4 million barrels per day and 3 billion cubic feet per day of domestic gas production, Executive Chairman, AA Holdings, Austin Avuru, has said at the conference.
Speaking on the theme, “Nigeria’s Energy Transition: Enhancing investment opportunities & addressing challenges in the energy sector”, Avuru said Nigeria should focus more on energy security and optimise the value of its oil and gas resources before committing to its energy transition agenda.
He explained the energy transition agenda is a lot more serious than an issue that has to do with carbon emissions in the country, adding that carbon emissions reduction has been the key factor that all the energy transition argument has been hinged on.
Most countries have focused on addressing energy security and optimising the available resources while driving the transition.
The Executive Chairman said every country would address these two things before coming to what some people think is the residual matter of reduction of carbon emission.
He underlined the need Nigeria should prioritise energy security for both now and in the future and optimise the value of the numerous energy resources that it has today, while still pushing the energy transition agenda.
Avuru said if the government must prioritise the energy transition agenda, it should have raised the country’s crude oil production to about three to four million barrels per day presently; then, reduce production to one million barrels daily by 2040.
He believed the country should have achieved domestic gas production of four billion cubic feet per day between now and 2030.
To curb the incessant oil theft in the country, the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has introduced the Advanced Cargo Declaration regime in upstream petroleum operations to arrest oil robbery and curtail export of stolen crude oil.
The commission also stated its plans to reactivate shut-in wells as part of initiatives to increase oil and gas production in the country.
The Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe said this intervention at the conference, represented by Abel Nsa, Head of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) Department, NUPRC, said the initiative aims at ensuring that crude oil and gas cargoes exported from Nigeria have a unique identifier that confirms all documentation as regards the exported consignment.
‘‘This implies that any cargo without the unique identifier becomes tagged as illegitimate. This, by no small measure, enhances transparency in our export operations”, he stated.
He said NUPRC had deployed key resources to the Special Investigative Unit of the Commission to forestall any cases of sharp practices by operators in the sector.
‘‘Over the next few months, we are positive that we shall record a marked increase in our national oil and gas production volumes.
“Quick-win strategies such as our aggressive drive to reactivate shut-in and declining wells will boost production prior to the onset of more long-term initiatives like operations from the new marginal field awardees.
“Also, the Commission is working alongside security operatives to bring a halt to the menace of crude oil theft, which has over the years contributed to a huge loss of production”, he said.
The Commission Chief Executive added that the agency had begun the implementation of the Drill or Drop Provision with a comprehensive review of assets which had been undeveloped by operators.
Such assets, he said, would be placed in a basket and then offered to willing and qualified investors with the capacity to explore, develop and produce the block(s) or field(s) in a timely, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly manner.
He stated that the ongoing mini bid round for seven Deep Offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) would boost the nation’s reserves as well as bring about anticipated benefits to the nation and other stakeholders.
On reduction in unit cost per barrel and revenue, he explained that the Commission is committed to ensuring a significant reduction in the cost of doing business in the upstream petroleum industry.
‘‘Following an in-depth comparative analysis between the Unit Operating Cost (UOC) in Nigeria and those obtainable in other climes
“We have commenced the development of cost studies and benchmarks to ensure an improvement in the cost efficiency of our upstream petroleum operations, in accordance with Section 8 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
The NUPRC has also begun a review of all Crude Handling Agreements (CHA) with a view to entrenching openness and competitiveness, thereby reducing the cost of production while increasing government revenue from the sector. It is noteworthy that in the year 2022, using the strategies listed above, the Commission outperformed its revenue collection target by 18.3 per cent’’, he explained
Komolafe maintained that the Commission had stepped up efforts toward transparency in the sector and that transparency in hydrocarbon accounting was essential in ensuring maximum value derivation by the government and stakeholders.
According to him, transparency is essential to ensuring security of investments made by our financial partners.
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Private sector secured loans worth N2.22 trillion in 30 days ended June 30, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) economic data for the month has shown.
Credit to Nigeria’s private sector rose to N83.26 trillion in June 2026 from N81.04 trillion in May, signifying a positive balance of N2.22 trillion month-on-month.
Year-on-year, the figure represents a nine per cent increase compared with the N76.13 trillion recorded in June 2025. The latest figures come as the CBN continues to balance efforts to control inflation with the need to support economic growth and expand credit to businesses.
The CBN data shows that credit to Nigeria’s private sector increased by approximately 2.74 per cent month-on-month between May and June 2026. Also, the CBN data noted that credit to the government fell slightly to N40.03 trillion from N40.38 trillion. Other assets, net, dropped to N10.76 trillion from N12.63 trillion.
The credit surge signifies sustained growth in lending to businesses and other private-sector borrowers during the month. The rise in private sector credit was recorded alongside an increase in net domestic credit, despite declines in credit to government and other assets.
Further analysis of the report says that compared with June 2025, private sector credit rose by about N7.13 trillion yea-on-year but net domestic credit increased by approximately N1.87 trillion during the month.
The CBN’s relatively tight monetary policy stance notwithstanding, more banks still loaded funds to the private sector within the period. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held its 306th meeting on July 20 and 21.
The Committee reviewed recent developments in the global and domestic economies, assessed emerging risks to the outlook and considered their implications for monetary policy and retained all rates.
The Committee decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent; the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points and retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent, Merchant Banks at 16.00 per cent, and non-TSA public sector deposits at 75.00 per cent.
The MPC decision means that credit extension in the private sector will likely continue to rise because of rising confidence in the sector and calls by stakeholders for banks to invest in the private scetor instead of government securities.
The Rivers 3 Host Communities Development Trust (RV3HCDT), in collaboration with the Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), has launched stakeholder engagements across six host communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area as part of efforts to provide sustainable solar-powered electricity to communities that have remained without public power supply for over a decade.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of RV3HCDT, Dr. Kerian Wobodo, disclosed this during a two-day sensitisation and consultation tour of Ipo, Omademe, , Ozuaha, Ubima and Omerelu communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area over the week.
Wobodo led members of the Trust and representatives of PIND to engage traditional rulers and other stakeholders on the proposed project.
Addressing the gatherings, he said the engagements were designed to familiarise the host communities with the objectives of the project and win their understanding, cooperation and ownership before implementation.
The leader of the delegation, also stressed that Trust considered it imperative to carry the people along from the planning stage to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and sustainability, noting that meaningful development can only be achieved through active collaboration with host communities.
Officials of PIND, while making their presentations, outlined the operational framework of the proposed solar-powered electricity scheme, describing it as a clean, reliable and environmentally friendly energy solution capable of transforming socio-economic activities in the benefiting communities.
According to the PIND representatives, the project will expand electricity access to homes, schools, healthcare facilities, markets and small businesses, boosting economic activities, improving livelihoods and accelerating overall community development.
They observed that the six communities have endured years of inadequate electricity supply, a situation they said has slowed economic growth, hampered educational advancement and limited access to essential social services.
The meetings featured interactive sessions during which community members sought clarifications on project implementation, maintenance, sustainability, community participation and the protection of the proposed facilities.
Members of the delegation addressed the concerns and assured stakeholders that all issues raised would receive adequate attention.
Youth representatives underscored the need to involve young people throughout the implementation process, calling for employment opportunities for qualified youths, skills acquisition programmes, ICT training, entrepreneurship development, capacity building and other empowerment to complement the electrification project.
Responding, the delegation, leader reaffirmed that local content participation, youth inclusion, peacebuilding, security collaboration and human capacity development would remain integral components of the initiative, adding that the project is designed to deliver long-term socio-economic benefits to the host communities.
The consultation tour ended at Omerelu Community, where the Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Eze (Engr.) Ben O. Ugo, Elumuoha VIII, alongside members of the Council of Chiefs, elders, Ohas, youth and women representatives, commended the Rivers 3 Host Communities Development Trust and PIND for the initiative.
They described the proposed solar-powered electrification project as timely and transformative and pledged their communities’ full commitment and support towards its successful implementation.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and the girl-child across the Niger Delta through expanded entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and sustainable livelihood programmes aimed at boosting economic independence and regional development.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made this known during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration held in Calabar, Cross River State, recently.
Represented by the Assistant Director, Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Dr Esther Philip Ogbuku said the Commission had continued to implement impactful programmes that equip women with practical skills, promote entrepreneurship and improve their socio-economic well-being.
He assured that the NDDC would sustain initiatives that encourage wealth creation, self-reliance and community development.
He said the Commission’s interventions are in line with its statutory mandate and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing confidence that the training would provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to establish sustainable businesses and improve their productivity.
Also speaking, the Cross River State Representative on the NDDC Board, Mr Orok Duke, said women and the girl-child possess enormous potential to excel in all fields of human endeavour, stressing that they remain vital partners in the socio-economic transformation of the Niger Delta.
Represented by his Special Assistant on Administration, Mr Bassey-Ita Duke, he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities that would enable women to attain their full potentials.
According to him, the Board, under the chairmanship of Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the management led by Dr Ogbuku, recognise agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, food security and sustainable livelihoods, adding that the Commission has continued to invest in animal husbandry, fisheries and crop production to improve household incomes across the region.
In a keynote lecture entitled, “Best Practices for Packaging Certified Products for Export,” a resource person from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Christiana Ekeng, urged entrepreneurs to ensure that all non-oil products intended for export obtain the required certification before shipment.
Ekeng explained that certification enhances product credibility, facilitates access to international markets and ensures compliance with global export standards, while proper packaging helps preserve product quality throughout the distribution chain.
She identified the three stages of packaging as primary, secondary and tertiary, explaining that products must be properly packaged and arranged in cartons to minimise damage and meet export .
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The Consultant to the Ukpai Empowerment Foundation, Dr Boma Nathan, commended the NDDC for sustaining programmes that promote women’s economic empowerment, describing the Commission’s intervention as a significant boost to inclusive development in the Niger Delta.
Nathan urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Commission, noting that empowering women enables them to discover their potential, pursue their aspirations, improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth and development of their communities.
By: King Onunwor