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Darkness looms in Nigeria as GenCos threaten shutdown over unpaid N4tn debt
There is looming darkness in Nigeria as power generation companies threaten a showdown.
This is as unpaid debts from the federal government and other market operators surged to over N4 trillion.
Chairman of the Boardof Trustees of the GenCos, Rtd. Colonel Sani Bello, made threats known to journalists in Abuja on Monday.
GenCos lamented that the mounting liabilities were crippling their ability to operate and threatening a total shutdown of electricity generation in Nigeria.
“The power generated by GenCos has continued to be consumed in full without corresponding payment.
“This situation has dire consequences for the GenCos and, by extension, the entire power value chain,” he said.
Of the N4tn owed, N2tn is for electricity generated in 2024, while N1.9tn represents legacy debts.
GenCos noted that the 2025 national budget’s N900 billion allocation for the power sector is grossly inadequate to address those arrears and sustain future payments.
Bello described the situation as “a clear departure from existing terms of the Power Purchase Agreement,” adding that under current conditions, GenCos only receive about 9–11 ppercent of their invoices, while regulatory bodies and other service providers are paid in full.
The GenCos also highlight the sharp decline in collection rates— below 30 percent in 2024— which they say has worsened the liquidity crisis.
“The crises from cash liquidity are on the top burner and have reduced GenCos’ ability to continue to perform their obligations,” he said.
Further compounding the issue are operational costs denominated in U.S. dollars and limited access to forex.
“The importance of a specialised window or stable dollar allocation option for the GenCos cannot be overemphasised,” Bello said.
GenCos added that they were demanding urgent government action, including full settlement of outstanding invoices, reprioritization of the waterfall payment structure, and guarantees backed by institutions like the World Bank and AfDB.
“There is a need for a coordinated approach by all stakeholders to address the liquidity issue realistically and sustainably. This request requires urgent attention,” he added.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has yet to respond to the matter as of the time of filing this report.
News
Senate confirms Oyedele as minister
During the screening, Oyedele proffered solutions to getting out of the various economic issues in the country.
The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance.
His confirmation comes after two hours of screening as lawmakers grilled him on various aspects of the economy.
Oyedele’s screening followed a motion moved by Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, after he called for the suspension of the Senate rule to allow strangers to come into the chamber.
During the screening, Oyedele proffered solutions to getting out of the various economic issues in the country.
Oyedele was escorted to the chamber by Bashir Lado, the Special Adviser to the President on the National Assembly ( Senate), alongside others.
His screening followed President Bola Tinubu’s letter to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting his confirmation as a minister.
Tinubu had, on March 3, nominated Oyedele, who currently serves as chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, as Minister of State for Finance.
News
Tinubu appoints Lamido Yuguda as CBN’s Deputy Governor
Lamido Yuguda’s last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
The appointment is in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
The President charges Yuguda to discharge his responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth.
Lamido Yuguda’s last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024.
He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy.
In 1991, he obtained a master’s degree in Money, Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a CFA charterholder.
He began his career in 1984 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Senior Supervisor in the Foreign Operations Department.
He also worked as an economist in the Africa Department of the International Monetary Fund from 1997 to 2001, when he returned to the CBN.
He retired from the CBN in 2016, after he had served as Director of the Reserve Management Department for six years.
News
JUST IN: IGP Disu Assigns Portfolios to New DIGs
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services, DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has assigned the new Deputy Inspectors -General of Police (DIGs) their duties responsibilities.
Sources said that the DIGs were assigned departments based on their areas of competence.
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services,
DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
Similarly, DIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla has been posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID);
DIG Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman to Finance and Accounts; DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie will oversee the Force Intelligence Department (FID); DIG Fayoade Adegoke will head Information and Communication Technology, while DIG Umar Shehu Nadada has been posted to Operations departments.
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