₦airaland Forum

wellmax:
Reading skills 100%
Comprehension 0%

You are welcome.

To my own understanding from what he said, I thought that the government should make the infrastructure available for uninterruptable power supply, then they should keep their rate according to what they can generate and supply.

The main point is that there should be availability of consistent power supply and adequate pricing, if you cannot pay, you disconnect from the powerline.

Omi24:
It powers my deep freezer 24/7 and as for the AC I use it in the day time and some nights about 1 to 2 hrs when the heat is much. In addition to that I use it to pump water at anytime T

How long does it last without recharging batteries? And what is the maintenance costs?

Spreadlove8888:
To my own understanding from what he said, I thought that the government should make the infrastructure available for uninterruptable power supply, then they should keep their rate according to what they can generate and supply.

The main point is that there should be availability of consistent power supply and adequate pricing, if you cannot pay, you disconnect from the powerline.

The power sector is privatised and even though transmission isn't, the way things are arranged , a large bulk of their funding comes from the tarrifs discos charge.

Hence the need for cost reflective tarrifs

nairalanda1:
Well, from the way over 60% of people on meters bypass electricity, and most of them are not even on Band A, I think otherwise


States can't generate electricity profitably, unless they charged everyone about N210 or above per kwh. Also, they can't attract investors because government rules keep prices artifically low for the majority.

And then see my above point.

Result....problems.

TInubu was running away from reality with that law.

1.It takes time to recover lost money. See how the recovery of abacha loot has gone about. Meanwhile, are we to remain in darkness until we see the 210 trillion

2. We need something like 10 trilloon-14 trillion naira annually to fix electricity to a level where it would keep the lights on for those connected to the grid.

2 trillion no dey do shishi.

3. Cost reflective tarrifs, or sane investors no go drop money.

4. It's effing painful, but it is what it is. There is a reason why we have working GSM and why our markets and provision stores are full to the brim with product. No one is forcing them to sell below profitable price.

Electricity will never need 10% of those amount you are parading. Stop acting like a fool bro.
You got internet myopia

BitCraftman:
Electricity will never need 10% of those amount you are parading.

Unfortunately, it does.

This quote is from the former minister of Power

If you don't trust the government, the above was based on what experts said.

It's effing painful, but here we are.

Modifed

Here is a contrasting view. The guy even mentions that subsidy is stiill neded for poor households, a view I do not hold, and he still estimates that the cost is higher than what the government estimates

Solcampbell:
So helinues is thesame person as nairalanda1

That data boi that created this senzelezz thread is a die hard fan of the faakkee certificate holder.

He never speaks the truth while he defends the faaake certttifficcate hollldderr from the back door. He pretends not to be part of the data boiz of the faaake certttifficcate holder but he is the arrow head of that group here on Nairaland

His other monikers include Kushites, Kemetian Rossik but not the least

One of the comrades from the Nairaland Communist Party has arrived, hes' above this comment

Cost reflective tarrifs, comrade, cost reflective tarrifs.

DatNiggaZ is also known as Helinues.

Scamburster:
Hmmmmm
So that guy is actually a paid agent?

He's even one of their leaders sef. I have always known that he was part of them. I just got the proof. As soon as he saw my comment, he quickly blocked me and changed to the other username.

Anyone who spends so much time and energy pushing for higher taxes and subsidy removal no matter how valid his points might be but never calls out corruption, waste, and mismanagement is definitely being paid to do so.

The comrade above, SolCampbell, knows he cannot refute my points, so he takes refuge in mockery and slander.

As they say, mockery shows how much the person who does it knows, which is little.

Talking TALKING Talking TALKING TALKING









No action No action No action

dododawa1:
Talking TALKING Talking TALKING TALKING









No action No action No action

Like your president and the oppostion

I ain't in government , nor do I work for them.

nairalanda1:
Cost reflective tarrifs also worked for GSM

I remember when Nigerians were complaining about the high prices they were charging and one stakeholder replied them with 'How else do you think that the GSM companies would be able to pay for expansion and infrastructure, since government was not supporting them with money'

But more transparent than discos. Lol. Like I wrote, I have no light since Friday and im in band A. Lol.

People will rebel against any price rubbish na.

The law of lean business. Do that small very well and people will trust you. Why cant they prioritise band A. If they would kill themselves to make sure band A has light, do you think the game wont change? The whole structure will change. It will improve a lot. Demographics will shift to realign with it. Houses price in band A will move up drastically. Lagosians will move to band A. Thats how you divide the whole of Lagos. And that's how you develop it by sections. But these people are not serious.

I agree the money they are making cannot do the job well, but they have had many chances to prove that they can do it. However, the feedback is that they are not ready to make changes withnthe little they get more. So, who will want to give them more? Answer na. Just like the parable in the Bible...the business man whontraveled and his 3 workers. He gave one 5 or so talents, another 3, and rhe last 1. The 5 and 3 doubled the money while the one with one felt bad. He buried the money and returned that 1 to his master. His master kicked him out and vcae the guy with high worth the one. So he had 11. Go multiply it again.

Wetin we don do right for this nepa that will encourage anyone to want to pay more esp with this their Band A scam?

So, i am going to ask you. Are you in band A? If you are, and you are not getting the worth. Yet paying high...you will get the point.

epainos:
But more transparent than discos. Lol. Like I wrote, I have no light since Friday and im in band A. Lol.

People will rebel against any price rubbish na.

The law of lean business. Do that small very well and people will trust you. Why cant they prioritise band A. If they would kill themselves to make sure band A has light, do you think the game wont change? The whole structure will change. It will improve a lot. Demographics will shift to realign with it. Houses price in band A will move up drastically. Lagosians will move to band A. Thats how you divide the whole of Lagos. And that's how you develop it by sections. But these people are not serious.

I agree the money they are making cannot do the job well, but they have had many chances to prove that they can do it. However, the feedback is that they are not ready to make changes withnthe little they get more. So, who will want to give them more? Answer na. Just like the parable in the Bible...the business man whontraveled and his 3 workers. He gave one 5 or so talents, another 3, and rhe last 1. The 5 and 3 doubled the money while the one with one felt bad. He buried the money and returned that 1 to his master. His master kicked him out and vcae the guy with high worth the one. So he had 11. Go multiply it again.

Wetin we don do right for this nepa that will encourage anyone to want to pay more esp with this their Band A scam?

So, i am going to ask you. Are you in band A? If you are, and you are not getting the worth. Yet paying high...you will get the point.

The problem is

1. The majority of consumers are not in band A

2. The losses made from the majority of consumers not in band A, plus government wuru wuru and lack of payment of subsides, wipe out the profits made from band A

3. Result, discos and gencos cannot give enough light to band A

4. Same issue in India. Commercial and business people are supposed to pay for band A type services in India and the profits made would subsidise rural users, and the poor. At least that was the idea, but it isn't working...power cuts are happening as a result.

5. We generate less than 6000 mw. That;s why I was amused with the band A thing from the word go. Whole thing smacked of lipstick on a pig and pretence. While running away from the real problem.

nairalanda1:
Well, the 4 trillion debt was acutally government cutting it from 6 trillion. And that is just what the government owes in terms of subsidy, there are other debts owed the power companies.

Plus it won't attract investments. Investors want to see ROI and the only way to do that is by...allowing cost reflective tarrifs, not by doing price controls and subsidies that do not get paid on time.

PLus subsides only cover the difference between the cost of production and the government set price. It doesn't allow for the companies to make a profit.

The band A is actually a government response to reduce subsidy on power. That is why democracy is different from military government. I reckon a very intelligent and benevolent dictator will get a lot done with the will power in a very fundamentally flawed country like Nigeria. There are too many "right" things that can't just be implemented, sometimes politicians leave it till when they are not seeking further elective position or when they sense massive popularity. A successful coup against the current president will be seen as victory for many Nigerians, not because he is doing the wrong things, but they only see it from the perspective of "the qualIty and quantity of food in their mouth NOW" . Even most of the security issues in Nigeria is centric on terrible socio religious practices in the core north. I was "privileged" to serve in the north when boko haram was yet to exist, and i knew that it was only a matter of time those almajiris will revolt, it was tale of wickedness covered with culture and religion, as dead bodies are usually seen during harmattan seasons of kids who did not beg to come to life. Almajiri should not survive 3 months in a very "sane" situation, that 3 months is to build large roof over the heads of those kids who are the bandits of today. Nomadic cattle rearing will not survive a day in an ideal situation.

Governance is not a man holding a djinee, the closest to that is a military government, even a military govt. is still afraid of losing support of its ruling council. Nigeria had failed military dictators in the past, so i can not recommend it. Tinubu will win 2027 because he knows how to play his politics right while he is doing the reforms most of the leaders are lazy and afraid to do.

Nefort:
How long does it last without recharging batteries? And what is the maintenance costs?

These questions are giving interviews vibe, though I'll answer them. I do wake up in the morning to see my ba3 at forty something % despite sleeping late and running security lights all through the night, b4 11 am it will be in 100% although I'm using a bigger ba3 and enough panels. I have a zero maintenance cost for over 4 years that I have been using it. The only cost I incur was when I upgraded to Lithium ba3 and hybrid inverter last year and since then I have not recharge my prepaid meter till now.

nairalanda1:
So recently, Peter Obi made a comment that he was going to improve our power supply by 10000mw, which would take us up to 32000 mw...which should be enough for us to get light 24/7 (subject to the Siemens project working)...and the response was tinubu supporters making fun of Obi as a man without ideas, while Obi supporters praised their man as being wisdom incarnante.

Except that Obi did not tell us how he plans to do it.

Which essentially begs the question, how do we vote for a guy who promises us something, but does not tell us how to do it.

Which leads me back to Tinubu. IN 2023, tinubu said...if you vote me and I do not give you constant power supply, vote me out in 2027.

Naturally tinubu supporters were praising their man as being a tough minded leader, etc, etc....while Obi people are now calling in the receipts. Man has not done as promised so he should be kicked out.


Which leads me to my point.

Tinubu and obi never/have not told Nigerians how they intend to improve power supply.


The truth of the matter is, we have a plan, laid out by the experts, about power supply. A decent , strong plan....cost reflective tarrifs, ending power theft, and rolling out metering.

But neither tinubu nor obi, nor even atiku or any potential candidate would mention that because it does not win votes. (Sowore would probably announce a plan to give 24 hour light a day at N1 per kwh).


Nigerians , regardless of political party, like hearing populist language. If a leader came into office and started doing the things the experts have said we should do, he would be voted out. Or chased out. You will see the Fulani herdsmen marching with the Igbo farmer, the Yoruba trader marching with his Hausa counterpart, and there would be riots.


And the leader would be voted out.

That is why whoever takes office, won't be allowed to improve power because Nigerians think that electricity should be free of charge.

When in reality, it is not possible.

Electricity costs money. If you won;t pay for it in cost reflective tarrif, you will pay for it in generator and inverter monies. That is what Band A taught us.

And on that Band A, the idea of tinubu was not original. India has a similar system, present for decades, that commercial and industrial properties would pay a cost reflective tarrif and the profits would be used to pay for subsidising the poor farmers and rural people

And after doing that, has power supply in India improved? (No.).

Infact India is planning to make everyone pay cost reflective tarrfs in five years time.


SO, if it didn't work in India, how e go work in NIgeria?

The only way we can get free power is to take massive loans totalling nearly 2/3rd of our budgets for the next ten or more years...and while it may give us enough light, it would also put us in heavy debt for it.


In 2025, Prof Barth Nnaji, who is definetly not a Tinubu supporter put it well



SAUCE : LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER


I have been saying the above for years, but people here abuse me, so I may as well quote the actual expert, who is a qualified engineer, a former ministar of power, and an owner of a GENCO.

And he is not the first or the last to state that this needs to be done. PwC have said it, several experts have been saying it, a BBC report said it, and so forth.

Yet, Nigerians and their candidates choose to believe the fiction of corruption or some evil Western zionist overmind does not want to give us light.

It is easier to believe conspiracy theory fiction

Like NIgerians, like candidates.


Good afternoon.

I expcet to be abused and to be told about other countries that somehow magically give free power(the macs won't add that those countries pay for it with heavy taxes, or heavy debt).

Tinubu and the Power Sector: Fixing a Broken Grid, One Layer at a Time by CharlesCNG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met a power sector trapped in old problems: weak generation, fragile transmission, poor distribution, unpaid market debts, gas shortages, tariff shortfalls and repeated grid collapses. For decades, Nigeria had installed capacity on paper but could not reliably deliver power to homes and businesses.

The Tinubu administration has begun attacking the problem across the three layers of the value chain.

On generation, output has improved, with Nigeria recording new peaks above 5,500MW in 2025 and available generation reportedly crossing 6,000MW for the first time. NERC also reported that total generation rose by 10.92% in Q1 2025 compared with Q4 2024.

On transmission, the government has continued the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens, aimed at upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure. Tinubu has also pushed for substation expansion to strengthen grid capacity.

On distribution, the administration began the difficult tariff reform by targeting Band A customers, cutting electricity subsidies by 35% and raising sector revenue by about ₦700 billion, while subsidy burden fell from about ₦3 trillion to ₦1.9 trillion.

What is left? Plenty. Grid collapses must stop. DisCos must meter more customers. Gas supply must improve. Debt to GenCos must be cleared. Power must become stable, affordable and widespread.

But the direction is clear: Tinubu inherited a broken power system and has started the hard work of rebuilding generation, transmission and distribution together.

CharlesCNG:
Tinubu and the Power Sector: Fixing a Broken Grid, One Layer at a Time by CharlesCNG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met a power sector trapped in old problems: weak generation, fragile transmission, poor distribution, unpaid market debts, gas shortages, tariff shortfalls and repeated grid collapses. For decades, Nigeria had installed capacity on paper but could not reliably deliver power to homes and businesses.

The Tinubu administration has begun attacking the problem across the three layers of the value chain.

On generation, output has improved, with Nigeria recording new peaks above 5,500MW in 2025 and available generation reportedly crossing 6,000MW for the first time. NERC also reported that total generation rose by 10.92% in Q1 2025 compared with Q4 2024.

On transmission, the government has continued the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens, aimed at upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure. Tinubu has also pushed for substation expansion to strengthen grid capacity.

On distribution, the administration began the difficult tariff reform by targeting Band A customers, cutting electricity subsidies by 35% and raising sector revenue by about ₦700 billion, while subsidy burden fell from about ₦3 trillion to ₦1.9 trillion.

What is left? Plenty. Grid collapses must stop. DisCos must meter more customers. Gas supply must improve. Debt to GenCos must be cleared. Power must become stable, affordable and widespread.

But the direction is clear: Tinubu inherited a broken power system and has started the hard work of rebuilding generation, transmission and distribution together.

Nigeria’s Grid Collapses: The Problem, the Recent Incidents, and What Is Being Done by CharlesCNG

Nigeria’s national grid collapses because the system is old, fragile and poorly balanced. A grid collapse happens when generation and demand fall out of balance, causing frequency problems. Once one major generator or transmission line trips, others can shut down in a chain reaction.

The causes are not new. They include ageing transmission equipment, weak substations, vandalised towers, gas shortages to power plants, poor investment, high sector debts, and limited real-time control systems. Reuters reported that Nigeria’s power sector loses huge value yearly because the grid remains unreliable, with old infrastructure, vandalism and insufficient investment as key causes.

Recently, Nigeria recorded a major grid outage on September 10, 2025, after a generator failure triggered cascading breakdowns across the system. The Nigerian Independent System Operator said restoration began immediately, using the Shiroro hydropower plant to restart supply to Abuja before expanding restoration nationwide.

In January 2026, another collapse occurred, with generation reportedly falling to zero megawatts and all 11 distribution companies receiving no allocation at the time.

What is being done? The government and regulators are pushing grid modernisation, substation upgrades, stricter generator integration into SCADA/EMS systems, better monitoring, and more investment under the Presidential Power Initiative. NERC has also ordered grid-connected generation companies to provide SCADA-compliant data and control facilities compatible with TCN’s system.

The truth is simple: grid collapse is not fixed by slogans. It requires generation stability, gas supply, transmission investment, anti-vandalism enforcement, metering, liquidity, and modern grid control.

Omi24:
These questions are giving interviews vibe, though I'll answer them. I do wake up in the morning to see my ba3 at forty something % despite sleeping late and running security lights all through the night, b4 11 am it will be in 100% although I'm using a bigger ba3 and enough panels. I have a zero maintenance cost for over 4 years that I have been using it. The only cost I incur was when I upgraded to Lithium ba3 and hybrid inverter last year and since then I have not recharge my prepaid meter till now.

Thanks for the answers. I have just one last question; how much did the setup cost?

CharlesCNG:
Tinubu and the Power Sector: Fixing a Broken Grid, One Layer at a Time by CharlesCNG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met a power sector trapped in old problems: weak generation, fragile transmission, poor distribution, unpaid market debts, gas shortages, tariff shortfalls and repeated grid collapses. For decades, Nigeria had installed capacity on paper but could not reliably deliver power to homes and businesses.

The Tinubu administration has begun attacking the problem across the three layers of the value chain.

On generation, output has improved, with Nigeria recording new peaks above 5,500MW in 2025 and available generation reportedly crossing 6,000MW for the first time. NERC also reported that total generation rose by 10.92% in Q1 2025 compared with Q4 2024.

On transmission, the government has continued the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens, aimed at upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure. Tinubu has also pushed for substation expansion to strengthen grid capacity.

On distribution, the administration began the difficult tariff reform by targeting Band A customers, cutting electricity subsidies by 35% and raising sector revenue by about ₦700 billion, while subsidy burden fell from about ₦3 trillion to ₦1.9 trillion.

What is left? Plenty. Grid collapses must stop. DisCos must meter more customers. Gas supply must improve. Debt to GenCos must be cleared. Power must become stable, affordable and widespread.

But the direction is clear: Tinubu inherited a broken power system and has started the hard work of rebuilding generation, transmission and distribution together.

And he is stifling the hard work by refusing to allow cost reflective tarrifs.

When I say that you tinubu and obi supporters are alike, you go start to dey abuse me

We have been hearing the same story from you from previous administrations, yet all of them, including this one, refuse to remove subsides and price controls on power

When you do not do that, do you expect any improvement in power?

Go and read Prof Nnaji's quote again, and understand it. A business can only work if it makes a profit.

nairalanda1:
And he is stifling the hard work by refusing to allow cost reflective tarrifs.

When I say that you tinubu and obi supporters are alike, you go start to dey abuse me

We have been hearing the same story from you from previous administrations, yet all of them, including this one, refuse to remove subsides and price controls on power

When you do not do that, do you expect any improvement in power?

Go and read Prof Nnaji's quote again, and understand it. A business can only work if it makes a profit.

You are mixing half-truth with impatience and calling it wisdom. Yes, Prof. Barth Nnaji is right on one narrow point: a power business cannot survive forever if tariffs do not even cover costs. He recently argued for more cost-reflective tariffs and said the sector also needs restored PPAs, payment of legacy debts, and other reforms. So the issue is bigger than shouting “remove subsidy” as if that is one magic switch.

And this is where your argument weakens. Tinubu’s government has not refused to move on tariffs. It already raised tariffs for Band A customers in 2024, cutting electricity subsidies by 35%.
NERC’s own 2025 order also states[i] that federal policy is for a gradual transition to cost-reflective end-user tariffs[/i], with safeguards for poorer users. So the claim that this government is simply refusing cost-reflective tariffs is false. The truth is that it is moving there, but gradually, because a sudden full jump across all bands would trigger even worse public pain and non-payment.

The real problem with Nigeria’s electricity crisis is not tariff alone. It is a chain: legacy debts, weak remittances, gas supply, transmission bottlenecks, distribution losses, energy theft, and political fear of passing full costs to already suffering households. Even the sector’s debt-refinancing plan approved by government shows that unpaid legacy invoices from 2015 to 2023 have crippled investment.

Nefort:
Thanks for the answers. I have just one last question; how much did the setup cost?

👉 Battery..8.2kWh.......900k as at then
👉 4.2kva hybrid inverter....460k as at then
👉 350watts Panel....6 pieces each cost 55k
👉Wire... It depends on the length and quality

Just do the math,
Note: I didn't do it once if not the upgrade that made me to cough out abt 1.5mili and I sold out my old tubular ba3, charge controller and inverter at a very good price.

If you want to use information as a guide, I will advice you to look for an installer in your region, tell him what your power consumption and appliances are, he will guide on which system to go for and also the cost and affordable ones at your location.

CharlesCNG:
You are mixing half-truth with impatience and calling it wisdom. Yes, Prof. Barth Nnaji is right on one narrow point: a power business cannot survive forever if tariffs do not even cover costs. He recently argued for more cost-reflective tariffs and said the sector also needs restored PPAs, payment of legacy debts, and other reforms. So the issue is bigger than shouting “remove subsidy” as if that is one magic switch.

And this is where your argument weakens. Tinubu’s government has not refused to move on tariffs. It already raised tariffs for Band A customers in 2024, cutting electricity subsidies by 35%.
NERC’s own 2025 order also states[i] that federal policy is for a gradual transition to cost-reflective end-user tariffs[/i], with safeguards for poorer users. So the claim that this government is simply refusing cost-reflective tariffs is false. The truth is that it is moving there, but gradually, because a sudden full jump across all bands would trigger even worse public pain and non-payment.

The real problem with Nigeria’s electricity crisis is not tariff alone. It is a chain: legacy debts, weak remittances, gas supply, transmission bottlenecks, distribution losses, energy theft, and political fear of passing full costs to already suffering households. Even the sector’s debt-refinancing plan approved by government shows that unpaid legacy invoices from 2015 to 2023 have crippled investment.

I still stand by what I said, good man. Without a cost reflective tarrif, you cannot attract investment, and you cannot pay off debts, pay for gas, pay for transmission improvements, and so forth

Also, in my original post, I talked about energy theft , AND how it needs to be dealt with. Guess you didn't read the post

Better stop being in denial...there has to be cost reflective tarrif, or you will never see light, never see money to improve the issues you talked about

Better face the truth. Your government is running away from effing reality.

Omi24:
👉 Battery..8.2kWh.......900k as at then
👉 4.2kva hybrid inverter....460k as at then
👉 350watts Panel....6 pieces each cost 55k
👉Wire... It depends on the length and quality

Just do the math,
Note: I didn't do it once if not the upgrade that made me to cough out abt 1.5mili and I sold out my old tubular ba3, charge controller and inverter at a very good price.

If you want to use information as a guide, I will advice you to look for an installer in your region, tell him what your power consumption and appliances are, he will guide on which system to go for and also the cost and affordable ones at your location.

Thanks

nairalanda1:
I still stand by what I said, good man. Without a cost reflective tarrif, you cannot attract investment, and you cannot pay off debts, pay for gas, pay for transmission improvements, and so forth

Also, in my original post, I talked about energy theft , AND how it needs to be dealt with. Guess you didn't read the post

Better stop being in denial...there has to be cost reflective tarrif, or you will never see light, never see money to improve the issues you talked about

Better face the truth. Your government is running away from effing reality.

I am not in government, so stop with the childish “your government” line. I support this government’s reform direction because I believe the hard corrections are necessary. And on the narrow issue you raised, I actually agree with you: in the long run, cost-reflective tariffs are the way to go. A power market cannot survive forever if tariffs do not cover costs. That part is not controversial.

Where you are being simplistic is pretending that there are only two options: either full tariff shock immediately, or permanent darkness. That is false. The government is clearly pursuing a gradual transition, not running away from reality. Reuters reported that the Band A tariff reform already cut electricity subsidies by 35%, generated about ₦700 billion in extra revenue, and reduced the tariff shortfall from ₦3 trillion to ₦1.9 trillion. NERC’s own 2025 orders also state that federal policy is for a[b] gradual transition[/b] to cost-reflective tariffs, with safeguards for poorer consumers.

So yes, eventually the sector must get to full cost-reflective pricing. But after fuel-subsidy removal and FX reforms, government is trying to phase the pain strategically instead of detonating everything at once. That is why Band A came first.

And there is more movement than your denial allows. Sector-wide, NERC’s 2025 Q2 report said DisCos improved collection efficiency from 74.39% in Q1 to 76.07% in Q2, while the 2025 Q3 report showed a further rise to 80.70%. That is not perfection, but it is progress.

Even Abuja DisCo (AEDC/Abuja) improved from 76.36% collection efficiency in Q2 2025 to 81.60% in Q3 2025, and later recorded 83.11% in Q4 2025. So yes, energy theft and weak collections remain real problems, but it is simply false to pretend nothing is moving. On metering too, NERC has kept pushing the Meter Acquisition Fund, and approved ₦28 billion in late 2025 for metering outstanding Band A customers. In other words, the government is not denying reality; it is moving, though gradually, on tariffs, collections, and metering all at once.

So at least acknowledge the progress. Your principle on tariffs is right. Your refusal to admit that the government has already moved meaningfully in that direction is where your argument becomes selective.

CharlesCNG:
I am not in government, so stop with the childish “your government” line. I support this government’s reform direction because I believe the hard corrections are necessary. And on the narrow issue you raised, I actually agree with you: in the long run, cost-reflective tariffs are the way to go. A power market cannot survive forever if tariffs do not cover costs. That part is not controversial.

Where you are being simplistic is pretending that there are only two options: either full tariff shock immediately, or permanent darkness. That is false. The government is clearly pursuing a gradual transition, not running away from reality. Reuters reported that the Band A tariff reform already cut electricity subsidies by 35%, generated about ₦700 billion in extra revenue, and reduced the tariff shortfall from ₦3 trillion to ₦1.9 trillion. NERC’s own 2025 orders also state that federal policy is for a[b] gradual transition[/b] to cost-reflective tariffs, with safeguards for poorer consumers.

So yes, eventually the sector must get to full cost-reflective pricing. But after fuel-subsidy removal and FX reforms, government is trying to phase the pain strategically instead of detonating everything at once. That is why Band A came first.

And there is more movement than your denial allows. Sector-wide, NERC’s 2025 Q2 report said DisCos improved collection efficiency from 74.39% in Q1 to 76.07% in Q2, while the 2025 Q3 report showed a further rise to 80.70%. That is not perfection, but it is progress.

Even Abuja DisCo (AEDC/Abuja) improved from 76.36% collection efficiency in Q2 2025 to 81.60% in Q3 2025, and later recorded 83.11% in Q4 2025. So yes, energy theft and weak collections remain real problems, but it is simply false to pretend nothing is moving. On metering too, NERC has kept pushing the Meter Acquisition Fund, and approved ₦28 billion in late 2025 for metering outstanding Band A customers. In other words, the government is not denying reality; it is moving, though gradually, on tariffs, collections, and metering all at once.

So at least acknowledge the progress. Your principle on tariffs is right. Your refusal to admit that the government has already moved meaningfully in that direction is where your argument becomes selective.

Still stand by what I said.

Collection values tell me nothing, nor do meter acquistiion funds. One can sell bread that was costing N1000 to bake at N200, get every last loaf bought, and still lose N800 per loaf

That's what you guys need to understand.

This is not an attack on your government or nigerians, but a call to face reality. But all of you want to pay cheap prices for something that is expensive.

Thanks, I don try.

Ivory coast did sudden cost reflective tarrif shock, as did Ghana, they are benefiting. We cannot keep lying to ourselves.

The Op na olodo normally make Una no too reason am. As a business man I have 2 categories of customers A & B . A pay cost reflective tariffs for services I render while B doesn't as such I run at loss.
Instead of me to focus on A customers that are paying the true price for my services by continued service improvements, I prefer stealing from them, and not even giving them what they pay for all in the excuse of these A customers are not many, as such the profit I make from them is not enough. Not that I'm even improving the service of B customers.

Customers A service delivery poor, Customers B service delivery almost 0 but I'm expecting to make killer gains, how is that possible if not by stealing from these customers? But at the end of the day na me still complain pass, oya sell or quit the business I claim I'm not making profit from, I still no gree, no be juju be that?

Presidency dey use solar energy...

Jakarta:
The Op na olodo normally make Una no too reason am. As a business man I have 2 categories of customers A & B . A pay cost reflective tariffs for services I render while B doesn't as such I run at loss.
Instead of me to focus on A customers that are paying the true price for my services by continued service improvements, I prefer stealing from them, and not even giving them what they pay for all in the excuse of these A customers are not many, as such the profit I make from them is not enough. Not that I'm even improving the service of B customers.

Customers A service delivery poor, Customers B service delivery almost 0 but I'm expecting to make killer gains, how is that possible if not by stealing from these customers? But at the end of the day na me still complain pass, oya sell or quit the business I claim I'm not making profit from, I still no gree, no be juju be that?

Well, the fact is, the losses made from the majority of customers who are on band B-E is high enough to impact service delivery on band A customers.

That's why a cost reflective tarrif is needed

Also, recently the recent revenue figures came out. Sector earned 201 billion naira for April. Actual cost of gas used from the thermal stations for that month is about 195 billion naira.

Assuming gencos paid off their gas costs in full, that leaves 6 billion for everyhting else, including hydro dam maintenance, salaries, transmission maintenance, distribution maintenance, and salaries...6 billion naira

All that has an impact on supply



P.S

Using the world olodo to adress people you disagree with makes you look rather immature. I beleive you are at least in your forties. You aren't on the playground anymore. Calm down.

Jakarta:
Ogbeni, many Nigerians are willing and ready to pay cost reflective tariffs, but the DisCos must first perform their core responsibility of distributing electricity to customers who are prepared to pay.

Ironically, both customers on non cost reflective tariffs and those already paying cost reflective tariffs often end up doing the DisCos' job themselves by contributing money to erect electricity poles, purchase transformers, procure meters, and sometimes even fund network expansions and maintenance.

How do you expect to make sustainable profits when many of the customers willing to pay are also forced to provide infrastructure that should ordinarily be part of the service you're expected to deliver? Not getting such a simple logic makes you an olodo, it is as simple as that.

Well they can't distribute electricity to consumers because most consumers are not ready to pay a cost reflective tarrif, and the government is insitent on not letting them do so which

1. Reduces profits drastically making improvements impossible

2. Prevents investment, because people won't invest in a company where most of the customers are not paying the full price and government subsides are bad.

Result..no sustainable profits

GSM companies, on the other hand were allowed to charge cost reflective tarrifs from the word go...which allowed them to build infrastructure from scratch to fruition. Note that unlike the power sector they came and met nothing. ANd service was not that good in the first few years.

But because they were allowed to charge a cost reflective tarrif, and because there is no equivalent of bypassing meter in using your phone, they were able to make the profits to improve things, and improve service

But your power companies do not have that advantage, plus even when metered, most people bypass them

Government has to end price controls, and enforce laws against power theft and meter bypassing, or we won't see light and corruption and inefficency will continue.

nairalanda1:
Well they can't distribute electricity to consumers because most consumers are not ready to pay a cost reflective tarrif, and the government is insitent on not letting them do so which

1. Reduces profits drastically making improvements impossible

2. Prevents investment, because people won't invest in a company where most of the customers are not paying the full price and government subsides are bad.

Result..no sustainable profits

GSM companies, on the other hand were allowed to charge cost reflective tarrifs from the word go...which allowed them to build infrastructure from scratch to fruition. Note that unlike the power sector they came and met nothing. ANd service was not that good in the first few years.

But because they were allowed to charge a cost reflective tarrif, and because there is no equivalent of bypassing meter in using your phone, they were able to make the profits to improve things, and improve service

But your power companies do not have that advantage, plus even when metered, most people bypass them

Government has to end price controls, and enforce laws against power theft and meter bypassing, or we won't see light and corruption and inefficency will continue.

The discos have a legacy problem - they still have government culture.

Distribution has always been the most corrupt part of the power triangle with everyone from the Ogas at the top to the rank and file engaging in dodgy practices that cost the business revenue and erode customer confidence.

I had been disconnected for 2 years because I stopped paying estimated bills. I recently decided to reconnect and they had almost no record of me in their system. Basically rather than try to retain a customer, they had chosen to let me go. A struggling company and it's rank and file are not doing everything they can to retain customers.

I am an electrical engineer and whenever you need to work with nepa officials on a project it feels like pulling teeth. They are always so eager to make up fake costs and fake standards and claim they are buying material that are in their stores. All this does is ensure that they ultimately exit their well heeled customers who decide they don't need to cope with duplicitous bs

I am saying a large part of the issue is also their own internal culture which I don't think is going away anytime soon. When contractors are really just bare faced fronts for nepa officials how do you get anything done?

I remember years ago my employer had a project in ikoyi. Install a transformer. The region district manager or whatever they were called at the time had a company that bid for the job. They lost. The man then proceeded to frustrate the hell out of the vendor who was awarded the job. Basically - you have to pay me or you don't get this transformer connected.

The very well heeled customers will just say Fk it and go straight to solar. And they are already doing so.

GloriousGbola:
The discos have a legacy problem - they still have government culture.

Distribution has always been the most corrupt part of the power triangle with everyone from the Ogas at the top to the rank and file engaging in dodgy practices that cost the business revenue and erode customer confidence.

I had been disconnected for 2 years because I stopped paying estimated bills. I recently decided to reconnect and they had almost no record of me in their system. Basically rather than try to retain a customer, they had chosen to let me go. A struggling company and it's rank and file are not doing everything they can to retain customers.

I am an electrical engineer and whenever you need to work with nepa officials on a project it feels like pulling teeth. They are always so eager to make up fake costs and fake standards and claim they are buying material that are in their stores. All this does is ensure that they ultimately exit their well heeled customers who decide they don't need to cope with duplicitous bs

I am saying a large part of the issue is also their own internal culture which I don't think is going away anytime soon. When contractors are really just bare faced fronts for nepa officials how do you get anything done?

I remember years ago my employer had a project in ikoyi. Install a transformer. The region district manager or whatever they were called at the time had a company that bid for the job. They lost. The man then proceeded to frustrate the hell out of the vendor who was awarded the job. Basically - you have to pay me or you don't get this transformer connected.

The very well heeled customers will just say Fk it and go straight to solar. And they are already doing so.

Even then, they aren't allowed to charge a cost reflective tarrif which worsens the corruption issue