Nigeria’s power minister, Joseph Tegbe, says the Federal Government can no longer continue paying for electricity tariff shortfalls while also being expected to provide reliable power for all Nigerians. Speaking at an energy conference in Lagos, he frames the decision as part of addressing long-standing financial gaps in the power sector.
Across the reports, Tegbe highlights the mismatch between the cost of generating and supplying electricity and the tariffs consumers pay. He points to sector challenges including poor revenue collection, inadequate metering, and outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies. He also says the government is considering shifting from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) model toward bilateral electricity agreements, which would allow suppliers and buyers to negotiate commercial terms directly and improve payment discipline.
The outlets also agree that metering remains a major issue. Tegbe is reported to cite a metering gap of about 40% and notes progress in deploying meters, alongside plans to install millions more over the next few years as part of efforts to improve system sustainability and market performance.
