The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Jennifer Adighije, has called on the Federal Government to eliminate electricity subsidies entirely and transition to fully cost-reflective tariffs for all consumer categories.
In a recent statement issued in Lagos, Adighije emphasised that Nigeria’s power sector continues to grapple with severe structural and liquidity problems that undermine its overall performance. She proposed separating government subsidies from electricity pricing mechanisms and phasing in tariffs that reflect true production and delivery costs.
A financially sound market, she argued, is vital to rebuilding investor trust, drawing private capital, and fostering long-term growth in the industry.
Adighije highlighted ongoing liquidity shortages as a critical barrier, noting that only around 30 per cent of invoices issued within the electricity market are currently paid. This shortfall imposes heavy financial pressure throughout the supply chain. She also pointed to chronic gas supply disruptions, which drive up costs for thermal plants—where fuel expenses constitute nearly 60 per cent of total operational outlays.
Additionally, she identified a significant gap between installed generation capacity and the transmission system’s ability to wheel power effectively to distribution firms and final consumers.
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Updating stakeholders on NDPHC’s activities, Adighije reported that the company has built ten power stations across ten states as part of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). Eight plants have been commissioned, with six operating commercially. The firm’s total installed capacity is about 4,000 MW, accounting for roughly 30 per cent of Nigeria’s grid-connected generation.
In the last year alone, NDPHC restored approximately 900 MW of idle capacity through improved plant efficiency, stricter operational practices, and predictive maintenance approaches.
She announced the recent retrieval of 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages of essential power equipment valued at millions of dollars from Nigerian ports following extended delays. This recovered material will support the timely completion of various generation, transmission, and distribution initiatives nationwide.
Looking ahead, Adighije said NDPHC is expanding into renewable sources such as solar and small hydro to complement its existing gas-based assets. A pilot solar project aimed at industrial clusters in Kano State is underway, with plans to replicate the model elsewhere.
Through the “Light Up Nigeria” programme, the company seeks to provide dependable and cost-effective power to industrial zones, commercial areas, markets, universities, and residential neighbourhoods via embedded and independent supply models.
Adighije underscored the importance of faithfully enforcing the Electricity Act 2023 and other government policies to attract investment, bolster infrastructure, and boost electricity consumption amid Nigeria’s growing economy.
She reaffirmed NDPHC’s dedication to advancing national progress through stable power provision and expressed confidence that sustained reforms and strategic investments will markedly enhance electricity reliability in the near future.
