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When Will Nigerians Enjoy Stable Electricity?

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12 years ago

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Unarguably, the provi
sion of stable and uninterrupted power supply is key for accelerated economic and industrial development of any country. Analysts are quick to point out that Nigeria’s quest to become one of the 20th economies in the world may as well be a mirage without stable electricity supply.
They say that stable electricity supply will reduce the cost of manufacturing and services; boost investment and employment, among others.
However, in spite of its importance, efforts to guarantee sustainable stability in the power supply chain has remained elusive despite huge investments in the sector by successive administrations since independence.
For instance, available records showed that the Olusegun  Obasanjo’s government spent over three billion dollars on its National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) as at 2007. This, according to Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue, the Chairman, Joint Transaction Technical Committee, is out of the over 10 billion dollars earmarked for the NIPP.
He said that the amount was also inclusive of the two billion dollars Federal Government’s counterpart funding for Mambilla Hydro Power project and the 1.4 billion dollars set aside for additional nine turbines plants.
At the moment, four of the projects which on completion would generate 4,774MW, had been completed, while six others are at 80 to 90 per cent completion.
To further boost the initiative, the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has strengthened the power sector reform by fully privatising the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
The exercise eventually resulted in the unbundling of the PHCN and the establishment of power Distributing Companies (DISCOs) across the country.
Although the reform is yet to significantly improve power stability nationwide, the World Bank, however, applauded the government for the initiative, with a call on other African countries to emulate the policy.
Mr Mukhtar Diop, the bank’s Vice President, Africa, made the commendation while listing some infrastructural achievements in Africa, during the recent African Union Summit on Financing Infrastructure Development, in Dakar, Senegal.
According to him, the power reform is one of the ways of solving Africa’s problems by Africans. “We must commend the leadership in Nigeria for the successful completion of the privatisation of the country’s power sector. “The electric reform in that country is one of the ways of solving Africa’s problems by Africans. We commend the country for that.”
It is, perhaps, against this backdrop, that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to restore uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians by the end of 2014.
Jonathan gave the assurance while commissioning the NIPP 500MW Omotosho II Power Station at Omotosho in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He said that his optimism was based on the progress in the completion of the ongoing 10 independent power projects spread across the country.
“My administration is committed to boost electricity supply in the country. Today, we are in Ondo State to commission Omotosho Power Plant that will also serve the people of these areas and improve electricity supply in the country.”
But in spite of the government’s assurances, pundits doubt that uninterrupted and stable power supply to Nigerians would be achieved by the end of 2014.
Mr David Ladipo, whose company, Azura, is spending 700 million dollars to build a 450 MW plant in South Africa,  insists that with  the situation on ground, it will still take Nigeria 50 years from now to enjoy stable power supply.
Ladipo told Reuters news agency that Nigeria would need about 140,000MW to guarantee stable power supply.
‘’Nigeria is still scores of years away at this threshold. At present, it generates a meagre 4,000 MW for a population estimated at 170 million.
‘’South Africa, with a population of about 50 million people, produces about 40,000 MW  of electricity and has been trying in recent years to increase output.
“It will probably take Nigeria another 50 years before it attains the same level of electricity consumption per capita as South Africa currently enjoys today,” Ladipo said.
However, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State believes that with patience and commitment, Nigerians will soon enjoy the dividends of the ongoing power sector reforms.
Fashola expressed the optimism in Lagos at the closing ceremony of the 7th Lagos Economic Summit, tagged: Ehingbeti. According to him, the privatisation of the power sector will not be successful without the cooperation of investors and consumers.
He urged the public to develop energy conservation culture and manage existing power infrastructure adequately. “We should desist from illegal connections of electricity and ensure that our bills are paid appropriately.
“Electricity poles should not be used as speed breakers by reckless drivers; we should all protect the infrastructure from being damaged,’’ the governor said.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, shares similar sentiments, noting that the Federal Government has concluded plans to explore ways of implementing the Indian power sector model in order to further boost the nation’s capacity to generate more power.
Nebo stated this recently in Abuja when he received a delegation on power from India.
The minister said that the Nigerian power sector which was still in a transitional stage after the privatisation still had a lot to learn  from the Indian experience.
According to him, this is because of the peculiarity between both nations’ power sector. He said the ministry would soon summon a stakeholders’ forum of all Generating Companies (GENCOs), Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and the regulatory bodies to take a closer look on how India transformed its power sector.
Nebo also invited the Indian delegation to the first National Council on Power conference slated for August 2014 in order to have a robust discussion.
The minister assured the delegation that the Federal Government was committed to achieving 10,000 MW by the end of the year despite the challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the DISCOS, the Chief Executive Officer of Eko Disco, Mr Oladele Amoda, said the company had already had a technical arrangement with Tata of India.
He urged the India delegation to take seriously the issue of transfer of technology so as to fast-track the development of the sector.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Ajjampur Ghenashyam, who also spoke,  advised Nigeria, as the hub of economic activities in the West African sub-region, to take the lead in the development of regional power market.
He said that India had achieved over 400 per cent leap in generation capacity in the last 10 years due to the competitiveness of the market.
Ghenashyam said countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan had already been enjoying from seamless cross-border market and this had further boosted confidence for investment flow into the sector.
The envoy said that India was ready to partner with Nigeria in the development of the nation’s power sector.
Nonetheless, analysts have advised the government to also invest in the development of alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar in order to boost the capacity of the country to meet its energy requirement.
They also advise the government to fast-track the completion of the NIPP projects in order to realise the objective of providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians by the end of 2014.
Mr Adamu,writes for   News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

 

Sani Adamu

L-R: Chairman, Liaoning Efacec, Chief Sam Amyamele, Vice President, Engineering, Mr Li Jiawei, Vice President, International, Ms Hliang Xae Li and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, signing a memorandum on power in Abuja, recently.

L-R: Chairman, Liaoning Efacec, Chief Sam Amyamele, Vice President, Engineering, Mr Li Jiawei, Vice President, International, Ms Hliang Xae Li and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, signing a memorandum on power in Abuja, recently.

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Abia Secures $145m Investment Commitment To Establish Solar Manufacturing Plant

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6 days ago

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July 20, 2026

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Abia State Governor Alex Otti has welcomed a proposed $145 million investment to establish a solar manufacturing plant in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, describing it as a major boost to the state’s industrial and renewable energy ambitions.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued last week by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, after Otti received the investors, led by their Team Leader, Dr. Oko Jaja, at the Government House in Umuahia.
During the meeting held on July 16, 2026, Otti said he was encouraged that the proposed project had reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) stage, with the investors committing up to $145 million to establish the solar manufacturing facility in the state.
What they are saying
Governor Otti welcomed the investors’ commitment, saying the project had progressed to the stage where they were ready to invest up to $145 million in Abia.
“I’m glad that at least you have reached the final investment decision where you are investing up to $145 million.”, he said.
He also assured the investors of the state’s continued support, noting that the government had already provided the land required for the project and remained willing to address any additional requirements needed to facilitate the investment.
“We had to do everything that was required to make the land available. And we would like to assure you that if there is any other thing that you need for this investment, do not hesitate to let us know”, the Governor said.
Speaking on behalf of the investors, Dr. Oko Jaja said the project, being developed with Chinese partners, had advanced significantly and that the first tranche of funding is expected to be released by September 2026, paving the way for implementation.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of MD NWAKANMA NIGERIA Limited, Dennis Madu Nwakamma, said construction of the plant is expected to commence by the end of September under a public-private partnership with the Abia State Government. He added that the project will manufacture solar panels and related products while creating jobs and providing technical training for young people in the state.
The proposed investment adds to Abia’s growing push into the renewable energy sector. The state is among the few in Nigeria with a regulated electricity market and is home to Geometric Power, whose integrated power system supplies electricity to Aba and surrounding communities.
The development also follows Governor Otti’s recent commissioning of an upgraded 5MVA power station at Abia State University, which doubled the facility’s capacity from 2.5MVA to improve electricity supply within the institution.
Earlier, in February 2024, he commissioned the 188MW Geometric Power Plant, a landmark project aimed at expanding power generation and improving electricity access in the state.
The proposed solar manufacturing facility is the latest in a series of investment projects announced for Abia as the state seeks to attract private capital into manufacturing and infrastructure.
In March, Governor Otti commissioned a $35 million industrial facility in Aba, part of a planned $100 million investment expected to deepen the city’s manufacturing base and attract additional private sector activity.
The state government has also completed the acquisition of Afro Beverages from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) after paying N500 million to facilitate the revival of the company.
Separately, the Federal Government and the African Development Bank have urged the Abia State Government to resolve administrative delays affecting the commencement of the $263.8 million Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Development (ABSIID) project, which is expected to strengthen infrastructure and support economic growth across the state.
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FG Urges Against Operators’ Actions That Could Distabilise Market

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6 days ago

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July 20, 2026

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The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has called on operators in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to avoid actions that could affect the decentralised electricity market.
The minister made the call at the workshop on Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between federal and state institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), in Abuja.
Tegbe said the Federal Government retains an important leadership role, while state governments now have expanded responsibilities; the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)continues to regulate areas within its jurisdiction; and state regulators are emerging to supervise their respective markets.
He further stated that transmission remains a national asset; distribution companies continue to serve millions of customers; generation companies continue to supply energy into the grid; private investors provide capital; development partners provide technical support; while consumers remain at the heart of every decision.
Nothing that  none of these institutions exists in isolation, he said: “Our success is interconnected. This is why collaboration must become the defining principle of our decentralised electricity market. We must ensure collaboration rather than competition between institutions. We must build alignment instead of regulatory conflict. We must practice mutual respect instead of jurisdictional rivalry.”
He said the Electricity Act did not establish parallel electricity industries, but complementary electricity markets, operating within one national framework.
“Our objective must therefore be regulatory coherence. Investors should not encounter conflicting rules. Developers should not navigate contradictory approval processes. Consumers should not become casualties of institutional uncertainty. Market participants should enjoy clarity, predictability and confidence wherever they choose to invest,” he stated.
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Fuel Imports Surged By 207% In June — NMDPRA report

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6 days ago

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July 20, 2026

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Nigeria’s petrol importation surged by 207 per cent in June 2026, even as domestic Premium Motor Spirit supply fell by 22 per cent, according to the latest data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The development marked a sharp reversal from the pattern recorded at the beginning of the year when domestic refining was supplying the bulk of the country’s petrol requirements.
The NMDPRA’s June 2026 Fact Sheet, obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, showed that average daily PMS imports rose from 5.9 million litres in May to 18.1 million litres in June.
The 12.2 million-litre daily increase represented a 206.8 per cent month-on-month rise.
In contrast, domestic PMS receipts fell from 41.5 million litres per day in May to 32.5 million litres per day in June, representing a decline of 9 million litres or 21.7 per cent.
Despite the sharp drop in domestic supply, total PMS receipts rose from 47.4 million litres per day in May to 50.6 million litres per day in June. This represented an increase of 3.2 million litres per day or 6.8 per cent.
The report read, “Total PMS receipts rose by seven per cent from 47.4 million litres per day in May to 50.6 million litres in June, driven by a 207 per cent surge in imports to 18.1 million litres, even as domestic supply fell by 22 per cent to 32.5 million litres per day.
“Domestic daily receipts include DPRP gantry and all coastal evacuation receipts. Consumption data is based on volumes trucked out from all facilities into the domestic market.”
The figures suggest that the increase in imports more than compensated for the decline in domestic supply during the month.
The development is significant because Nigeria entered 2026 with a much stronger domestic supply position. In January, domestic PMS supply was reported at 40.1 million litres per day, accounting for about 61.8 per cent of the country’s petrol supply, while imports averaged 24.8 million litres per day.
However, imports fell sharply to 3.0 million litres per day in February before rising to 5.9 million litres per day in March. The country’s dependence on imports then remained relatively low through the following months before the sharp increase recorded in June.
Compared with January, June’s domestic PMS receipts of 32.5 million litres per day were 7.6 million litres, or 19 per cent, lower than the 40.1 million litres recorded at the beginning of the year.
Conversely, June’s import volume of 18.1 million litres per day was 6.7 million litres, or 27 per cent, below January’s 24.8 million litres per day.
However, the composition of supply changed considerably. While domestic supply accounted for the larger share of the market in January, the June figures showed a much greater reliance on imports to supplement local production.
The June data also showed that the country’s crude oil receipts by domestic refineries improved during the month.
Crude oil receipt by domestic refineries rose from 0.578 million barrels per day in 0.632 million barrelsMay to  per day in June, an increase of 0.054 million barrels per day, or 9.3 per cent.
The NMDPRA rounded the increase to 10 per cent in its fact sheet.
The rise in crude receipts occurred at a time when domestic PMS supply decreased, indicating that higher crude deliveries alone did not immediately translate into higher petrol receipts in the domestic market.
The figures could also reflect changes in refinery operations, product yields, maintenance activities, evacuation arrangements and the balance between domestic production and imported products.
The June fact sheet further showed that average daily PMS consumption increased marginally from 46.3 million litres in May to 47.4 million litres in June.
The 1.1 million-litre increase represented a 2.4 per cent rise.
The increase in consumption, however, was far smaller than the 207 per cent jump in petrol imports.
As a result, the country’s petrol stock position improved during the month. PMS stock sufficiency rose from 16.2 days in May to 19.7 days in June.
This represented an increase of 3.5 days, or 21.6 per cent.
The improvement means that the country entered July with almost 20 days of petrol stock sufficiency, despite the increased reliance on imports.
The increase in petrol stocks is significant against the background of the supply disruptions and price volatility that have characterised the downstream petroleum market since the removal of petrol subsidy.
At the beginning of 2026, the NMDPRA reported that PMS stock sufficiency had risen to 33 days in January, compared with 29.2 days in December 2025. However, the stock position subsequently declined before recovering to 19.7 days in June.
The June data also showed a dramatic increase in imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly known as cooking gas.
Total LPG receipts rose from 4.1 kilotonnes per day in May to 5.1KT per day in June, representing a 24.4 per cent increase.
Domestic LPG receipts, however, fell from 4.0KT per day to 3.6KT per day, a decline of 0.4KT per day or 10 per cent.
Imports rose from 0.1KT per day in May to 1.5KT per day in June.
That represented an increase of 1.4KT per day, or 1,400 per cent.
The sharp increase in LPG imports helped push total receipts higher, even as domestic supply declined.
The figures indicate that LPG supply exceeded consumption during the month, potentially supporting inventory replenishment.
The supply of Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, declined by 14 per cent in June.
AGO receipts fell from 18.8 million litres per day in May to 16.2 million litres per day in June, a decline of 2.6 million litres or 13.8 per cent.
The decline was entirely recorded in domestic receipts as the country recorded no AGO imports in either May or June.
The NMDPRA data showed that diesel consumption remained unchanged at 16 million litres per day in both months.
Consequently, June’s total AGO receipts of 16.2 million litres per day were only marginally above consumption.
Despite the lower supply, AGO stock sufficiency improved from 31 days in May to 37.1 days in June.
That represented an increase of 6.1 days or 19.7 per cent.
The rise in stock sufficiency, despite lower daily receipts, suggests that existing inventories continued to provide a substantial buffer for the diesel market.
The supply of Aviation Turbine Kerosene also fell during the month.
ATK receipts declined from 3.6 million litres per day in May to 2.5 million litres per day in June.
The 1.1 million-litre decline represented a fall of 30.6 per cent.
ATK consumption also fell from 3.1 million litres per day to 2.9 million litres per day, representing a 6.5 per cent decline.
The drop in consumption was, however, significantly smaller than the decline in receipts.
Domestic gas supply rose marginally during the period under review.
The NMDPRA reported that domestic gas supply increased from 4.984 billion standard cubic feet per day in May to 5.116Bscf/d in June.
The increase of 0.132Bscf/d represented a 2.65 per cent rise.
The authority said its domestic gas supply figure includes volumes supplied to the Nigeria LNG Limited.
The modest improvement came as the Federal Government and industry stakeholders continued to focus on increasing gas availability for power generation, industrial production and other domestic uses.
The January-to-June 2026 trend points to a petroleum market that has remained heavily influenced by the changing balance between domestic refining and imports.
Nigeria began the year with domestic PMS supply accounting for the majority of total supply. January’s 40.1 million litres per day from domestic sources compared with 24.8 million litres per day from imports.
By June, however, domestic supply had fallen to 32.5 million litres per day, while imports stood at 18.1 million litres per day.
Although the absolute volume of imports in June remained lower than January’s figure, the sharp increase from the May level showed how quickly the market could turn to imported products when domestic supply weakened.
The trend also highlights the continuing importance of domestic refining capacity to Nigeria’s fuel security.
In May, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied an average of 41.5 million litres of petrol daily, according to reports based on the NMDPRA’s monthly data. The figure was significantly higher than the 40.1 million litres per day recorded in January. However, June’s domestic PMS receipt fell to 32.5 million litres per day.
The development comes amid the gradual transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, with the Dangote refinery increasingly supplying the domestic market while imports continue to act as a balancing source.
The figures also demonstrate that increased refinery crude supply does not automatically guarantee a corresponding increase in domestic petrol receipts. In June, crude receipts rose by about 9.3 per cent, while domestic PMS receipts fell by 21.7 per cent.
For consumers, the most immediate implication is that the country’s petrol supply system remains dependent on a combination of local refining and imports.
The June data therefore presents a mixed picture: domestic refining received more crude, total petrol supply increased and stock levels improved, but local PMS receipts fell sharply while imports surged.
In the wider downstream sector, diesel supply remained entirely domestic, LPG imports increased dramatically to supplement weaker local receipts, aviation fuel supply declined and gas availability recorded modest growth.
The data underscores the continuing transition of Nigeria’s petroleum market from an import-dependent system to a mixed supply structure in which domestic refineries are expected to provide the bulk of demand while imports fill supply gaps.
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