Key Highlights
- Nigeria's three major hydroelectric power plants are not generating enough power to meet demand.
- Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) rely heavily on gas-fired plants to supplement supply.
- A liquidity crisis and tariff mismatches are significant challenges for the power sector.
- NERC has approved Ms. Sherifat Adegbenro as the acting CEO of Eko Electricity Distribution PLC (EKEDP).
- Increased production and improved payment collection are cited as solutions to power supply issues.
The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has stated that the country's hydroelectric power plants are failing to generate sufficient electricity, contributing to the widespread blackouts experienced across Nigeria. Sunday Oduntan, CEO of ANED, highlighted that the nation's three primary hydro plants—Shiroro, Kainji Dam, and Jebba—collectively produce less than one-third of the country's power output.
Consequently, DisCos are heavily reliant on gas-fired power plants, such as the one in Egbin, to bridge the generation gap. Oduntan emphasized that increasing overall power production is crucial to meeting the nation's energy needs and fulfilling all supply obligations.
Beyond generation issues, Oduntan pointed to a significant liquidity crisis within the electricity sector. He stressed the importance of customers paying for their energy consumption and actively reporting illegal electricity usage. Furthermore, he called for government ministries, departments, and agencies to settle their outstanding debts and for the issue of tariff mismatches to be addressed.
Technical alignment across the electricity supply chain is also a concern. Oduntan stated that there needs to be seamless coordination between generation, transmission, and distribution. If 10,000MW is generated, the Transmission Company of Nigeria must be capable of transmitting it, and the distribution companies must be able to distribute that same amount.
In a separate development, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved the appointment of Ms. Sherifat Adegbenro as the acting Chief Executive Officer of Eko Electricity Distribution PLC (EKEDP). This appointment aligns with the Code of Corporate Governance for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and ensures leadership continuity.
Adegbenro's appointment follows the resignation of Rekhiat Momoh, who had led Eko DisCo for nearly two years. Momoh was confirmed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in November 2025, after serving in an acting capacity since March 26, 2024. Her tenure saw the company focus on strengthening its leadership amidst the evolving power sector landscape.
