Business

How to halt N1t electricity subsidy, CBN’s N1.5t interventions

Published

5 years ago

December 6, 2021

Electricity stakeholders in the country, yesterday, insisted that removal of subsidy in the power sector was feasible if the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) could streamline interventions in the sector to mitigate the negative impact on the masses.

Last week, the Federal Government alerted that the gap between the Cost Reflective Tariff (CRT), and Allowable Tariff (AT) peaking at N28 per unit of electricity supplied to consumers, this year stands at about N1t.

Coming at a time that it is also considering subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari, had disclosed at the 12th edition of PwC Nigeria’s Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable, that the nation needs to optimise the potential in the power sector through a cost-reflective tariff regime.

Since the sector was privatised in 2013, perpetual interventions through the CBN have served as lifelines to the sector. They include Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF), hovering at about N300b, Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF), which is about N213b, an N140b Solar Connection Intervention Facility, an over N600b tariff shortfall intervention, as well as a recent N120b intervention designed for mass metering among others.

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In March 2017, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved an N701b CBN facility as Power Assurance Guarantee, just as the Federal Government, in 2019, also signed the release of another N600b to bridge the shortfall in the payment of monthly invoices by key stakeholders in the sector.

Fueled by tariff shortfall, receivable collection, technical, commercial and collection losses, financial liquidity in the power sector hovers around N4t as the apex bank, alongside the Federal Government has continued to initiate a series of interventions to douse tension and avert a collapse of the 2013 electricity privatisation exercise.

In about eight years, the CBN would have spent over N1.5t to keep the nation’s power sector afloat although the sector was privatised to survive by itself.

Although most stakeholders insisted that the interventions remained critical, especially in easing the liquidity crisis and attracting further interventions, they maintained that tweaking the interventions in manners that would ease further the masses’ burden and halt arbitrary billing of consumers was very important.

Renowned energy expert, Prof. Wunmi Iledare, noted that interventions by the CBN as a payable loan was understandable, even if it is a forgivable loan.

He insisted that the current structure of the electricity market in the country could mar the interventions, stressing that there must be a decentralised energy planning system.

According to him, while it is good that banks are targeting spending, subsidy may be a political expediency instrument, not economic efficiency hence “it should be disavowed. By the way, estimated billing now termed electronic billing is fraudulent! A quick way to bring subsidy to an end is metering and decentralisation of power management and services. Nearly everything centralised in the fashion of militarism has failed woefully, education, health, energy services road infrastructure, name it,” Iledare said.

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An energy expert, Eseosa Lloyd Onaghinon, stated that the energy sector must be rid of inefficiencies, which is usually passed on to consumers, adding that there are about 40 per cent inefficient losses between transmission and distribution.

“If we do not address such losses that occur, we might as well get into a trap where it’s an unending discussion of ‘subsidy’ even though it is continuous inefficiencies covered up as subsidies,” Onaghinon stated.

For energy lawyer, Osagie Agbonlahor, most of the woes experienced in the sector were responsible for the poor electricity situation in the country, adding that the development should be blamed on electricity operators, revenue collectors and the powers that be.

“How many army, police, air force, navy barracks in the country that their residents pay electricity bills at all? How many government ministries, army, air force, navy offices pay for the electricity that they consume? Who has ever dared to drive to the barracks and disconnect their source of public power supply the way they do to ordinary Nigerians? For how long has this been going on in this country? If you take away these huge leakages, you will see that the ordinary Nigerians have been sustaining and subsidising the electricity consumption of these people.

Agbonlahor said that the government broached the idea of deducting the huge outstanding electricity bill consumed in barracks and government offices under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He noted that “until we start to do the right things, we are just going to be beating about the bush.”

He asked the government to do a forensic audit of the N1t subsidy to check where the so-called subsidy is coming from.

The Guardian had earlier reported that the failure of federal and state governments, as well as their ministries and agencies to pay over N100b outstanding electricity bills is currently worsening the liquidity crisis in the sector.

The situation has also reportedly led to distribution companies hounding private electricity consumers who pay more through estimated bills and higher tariffs, rather than recover outstanding debts from government agencies.

Guardian

Related Topics:CBN electricity Featured interventions subsidy

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Dangote Refinery Announces New Petrol Price as Crude Oil Eases

Published

14 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Dangote Refinery Announces New Petrol Price as Crude Oil Eases

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a ₦75 reduction in the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, lowering the rate from ₦1,250 to ₦1,175 per litre in a move expected to influence Nigeria’s downstream fuel market.

In a notice issued to fuel marketers, the refinery said the adjustment takes effect from midnight on June 16, 2026, and applies to all outstanding but yet-to-be-loaded gantry volumes, which will be repriced at the new rate. The company also reduced its coastal petrol price per metric tonne from ₦1,595,790 to ₦1,495,215, reflecting a broader downward review across its pricing structure.

The refinery explained that the decision was influenced by the easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which had previously driven up global energy costs and caused volatility in the international oil market. It added that improved diplomatic engagements around key global shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have helped stabilize crude oil movement and pricing.

The international oil market had experienced significant pressure in recent months following tensions between major global powers, which pushed crude prices above $120 per barrel at the peak of the crisis. However, with renewed diplomatic discussions and easing tensions, crude prices have begun to stabilize, recently trading around the $80 per barrel range, offering some relief to refining and import costs globally.

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Since crude oil is the primary raw material for petrol production, changes in global prices directly affect refined product pricing across markets, including Nigeria.

The latest price adjustment positions the Dangote refinery as one of the most competitive suppliers in Nigeria’s deregulated downstream sector. Industry data from market tracking platforms indicate that petrol is currently being sold by some marketers at around ₦1,240 per litre, depending on logistics, location, and distribution costs.

The reduction is expected to gradually influence retail pump prices nationwide, although final consumer prices will still depend on transportation costs, dealer margins, and regional supply dynamics. Regulatory oversight is provided by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which continues to monitor pricing trends and market stability in the downstream sector. Major industry players such as NNPC Limited are also expected to adjust their pricing strategies in response to shifts in the refinery’s ex-depot rates.

The latest petrol price reduction in Nigeria is expected to bring moderate relief to consumers already grappling with fluctuating fuel costs. However, analysts note that despite lower ex-depot prices, retail fuel prices may vary across states due to logistics costs and supply chain factors. If global crude oil prices remain stable or continue to decline, further downward adjustments in fuel prices may be possible in the coming weeks.

Dangote Refinery Announces New Petrol Price as Crude Oil Eases

Business

SERAP Takes NNPCL to Court Over Alleged ₦5.9bn Rebranding Expenditure

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2026

Trends Admin

SERAP Takes NNPCL to Court Over Alleged ₦5.9bn Rebranding Expenditure

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to court over an alleged ₦5.9 billion expenditure linked to the incorporation, transition and rebranding of the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into NNPCL.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026, seeks an order compelling NNPCL to provide a comprehensive account of how the funds were spent and whether all approvals and procurement procedures were properly followed.

According to SERAP, the disputed amount comprises about ₦2.9 billion reportedly spent on incorporation expenses from petroleum product proceeds and another ₦2.9 billion allegedly charged by the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to crude oil revenues for the transition process.

The rights group is asking the court to direct NNPCL to release a detailed reconciliation statement showing all financial transactions related to the expenditure. SERAP is also seeking information on contractors involved in the rebranding exercise, the services they rendered, and the amounts paid to them.

In addition, SERAP wants NNPCL to disclose the identities and official positions of government officials who approved and authorized the expenditure. The organization argues that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how public resources were utilized during the transformation of NNPC into NNPCL.

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The suit was filed by SERAP’s legal team, including Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo. According to the organization, transparency and accountability are essential in the management of public funds, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which remains one of Nigeria’s most important sources of revenue.

SERAP maintained that the public deserves answers regarding who approved the spending, who received the funds, and whether the expenditure represented value for money. The organization further argued that the alleged failure to account for the funds raises concerns about public trust and good governance.

The lawsuit also references concerns reportedly raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which questioned the size of the expenditure and reportedly called for further explanations and legislative scrutiny.

Before approaching the court, SERAP had written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to direct anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the reported spending and identify those responsible for approving and receiving the funds.

According to SERAP, the matter goes beyond financial disclosure and touches on broader issues of accountability, transparency and responsible management of national resources. The organization contends that failure to provide details of the expenditure may be inconsistent with constitutional provisions designed to promote openness in public administration.

SERAP also cited Nigeria’s obligations under international anti-corruption frameworks, including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which emphasize transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

The transformation of NNPC into NNPCL followed the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which restructured the national oil company into a commercially oriented limited liability company wholly owned by the Federal Government. The transition was officially unveiled in July 2022 as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s petroleum industry and improve operational efficiency.

As of the time of filing this report, no hearing date has been fixed for the case, while NNPCL has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the lawsuit.

SERAP Takes NNPCL to Court Over Alleged ₦5.9bn Rebranding Expenditure

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Toyota Celebrates Customers, Partners as Zenith Bank Clinches Top Honour

Published

3 days ago

June 14, 2026

Trends Admin

L-R: Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo; Head of Admin and Due Diligence, Zenith Bank, Mr. Callixtus Nwodo; and Head, Dealer Development and Special Duties at Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Henry Ojuoko, during the presentation of Toyota Starlet Cross to Zenith as winner of TNL Evergreen Customer award in Lagos.

Toyota Celebrates Customers, Partners as Zenith Bank Clinches Top Honour

Toyota (Nigeria) Limited celebrated customer loyalty, strategic partnerships and industry excellence at its 2026 Awards and Customers’ Night in Lagos, with Zenith Bank, AGL Motors and leading automotive journalists emerging among the biggest winners.

The event, which coincided with Toyota Nigeria’s 30th anniversary celebrations, attracted customers, dealers, government officials, financial institutions, media practitioners and other stakeholders who have contributed to the company’s growth over the past three decades.

A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Evergreen Customer of the Year Award to Zenith Bank Plc in recognition of its status as Toyota Nigeria’s most consistent customer over the last five years.

The award came with a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross, presented by the company’s Chairman and founder, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo.

Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; Chairman of TNL, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, and MD/CEO, AGL Motors Ltd, Alhaji AbdulAfeez Gabar Lado, at the presentation of the 2025 best customer award to AGL Motors at the Toyota Awards in Lagos.

AGL Motors received recognition as Customer of the Year after recording the highest volume of Toyota vehicle purchases in 2025. The Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank finished as first and second runners-up respectively in the category, with winners receiving office equipment worth several millions of naira.

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Toyota Nigeria also used the occasion to honour members of the media for their contributions to automotive journalism and public understanding of developments in the sector. Theodore Opara of Vanguard won the Journalist of the Year Award, while Mike Ochonma of Transport World and Rasheed Bisiriyu of Newstrends emerged first and second runners-up respectively.

In his address, Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, described the annual gathering as a celebration of the enduring relationships that have shaped the company’s success since it commenced operations in 1996.

“Tonight is a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment,” he said, noting that the event underscores Toyota’s customer-first philosophy and appreciation for the loyalty and trust of its stakeholders.

According to him, Toyota Nigeria has grown into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands through its commitment to quality products, reliable after-sales support and continuous investment in customer satisfaction.

Ade-Ojo assured customers that despite prevailing economic challenges, the company would continue to introduce initiatives aimed at making vehicle ownership easier and more accessible for Nigerians.

He also expressed appreciation to dealers, customers, suppliers, consultants, financial institutions and employees for their support over the years, describing them as critical partners in Toyota Nigeria’s journey and future growth.