Business
Nigeria relies on nine plants for 71% power
Findings have shown that just nine out of 26 power plants connected to the national grid are responsible for as high as 71 per cent of electricity generation in the country.
The plants are Egbin, Kainji, Azura-Edo IPP, Jebba, Delta, Shiroro, Odukpani, Afam VI and Geregu with a minimum share of 5.76 per cent each.
Statistics obtained from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on the latest report, ‘State of the Industry NERC Annual Report 2020’, revealed that over-reliance of the grid on the energy supplied by just nine power plants out of 26 might pose a risk to the industry.
This was because downtime in any of them might result in grid instability if there was no adequate reserved capacity from other plants to timely offset adverse impact of any sudden loss of generation from any of the 9 plants, NERC said.
According to the report, the nine power plants accounted for 71.80 per cent of the total electric energy generated in 2020.
Due to its size and availability, Egbin power plant accounted for the highest share,13.54 per cent of the total energy output, followed by Kainji hydropower plant which accounted for 8.31 per cent energy share. Azura Edo, Jebba, Shiroro and Delta were also among the top-six contributors to generate output during 2020.
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During the same period, Gbarain power plant accounted for the least share of output contributing 0.24 per cent.
Compared to 2019, the reliance on the aforementioned nine power plants increased by 4.54 percentage points as they only accounted for 67.26 per cent of total generation in 2019.
The NERC said it had commenced the process of gradually activating the industry contracts to provide certainty to the minimum volume of energy expected of each generating plant and properly allocate risks among the industry operators.
This, the Commission said, was expected to lead to incremental growth in power availability and utilisation.
During the year 2020, the available generation capacity of the 26 active plants stood at 6,107MW while the average generation was 4,054MWh, about 5.97 per cent higher than the generation level in 2019.
The industry recorded the highest daily peak generation of 5,520MWh on 30th October 2020.
Nigeria currently generates just a little over 4000MW despite promise to hit at least 5000MW from July 1..
Experts say the country needs at least 30, 000MW to reach sufficiency.
The NERC said complete resolutions of the technical and operational challenges in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, remained a top priority.
“We are currently working to ensure that the Payment Assurance Facility for ensuring that GenCos honour their obligation to gas suppliers comes to an end. The Commission is finalising an Escrow Arrangement for the industry that will provide payment security for GenCos and gas suppliers pending full activation of contract obligations,” it said.
The average load factor across all plants stood at 61.74 per cent in 2020, indicating that an average power plant operating in the year 2020 had 61.74 per cent of its available capacity dispatched by the System Operator, SO. This represents a slight increase of 1.06 percentage points from the 60.68 per cent recorded in 2019.
Kanji, Jebba and Shiroro hydro plants, respectively, had 83.60 per cent, 78.73 per cent and 67.59 per cent of their available capacities dispatched by the SO and were respectively first, third and eight plants with the highest dispatch rates.
Thus, NERC said the dispatch rates of the three hydro plants complied with its Order NERC/182/2019, declaring hydropower plants as “must-run” by SO.
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The Order was to ensure that hydro plants were efficiently dispatched, given their low tariffs and in consideration of safety associated with spilling of water from dams during the rainy season.
In 2020, Azura power plant had a load factor of 79.74 per cent while Sapele NIPP had the least dispatch rate of 33.71 per cent.
A report by The PUNCH in July had chronicled the drop in the combined generation capacity of the country’s 26 power plants by 70 per cent.
Data had revealed that capacity of the plants dropped from a total of 13, 461MW to 4,022MW as of when they were last tested in July 2021.
Spokesperson for the GenCos, Joy Ogaji, declined comments on the perennial low power generation by the firms.
Metering Expert, Sesan Okunade, told The PUNCH that power generation was not what Nigeria should be battling to solve at the moment.
“We have generated more than this before that have been sold to neighboring countries. The reason for system collapse is the excess kilowatt not being collected by Discos due the technical and commercial loss.”
“Good connection policy and investment in transformers to replace the obsolete one will assist in what is being generated to be effectively received by Discos,” he added.
The National President, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, Barr. Chijioke James, said Nigerian consumers were told years ago that the generation capacity was over 6000MW.
“We are therefore surprised that in 2022 NERC is promising delivery of 5000MW by July 1st.
This does not give consumers confidence that the current situation will change for the better soonest,” he said.
Experts have called on the government to fully embrace other sources of energy to include renewables.
Executive Director of a solar-based company, Gennex Technologies, Toyin Ilo, said it was high time the Federal Government gave full support to the solar industry to thrive.
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Business
Petrol Depot Prices Fall as Dangote, Marketers Cut Rates, Pump Price Reduction Looms
Petrol Depot Prices Fall as Dangote, Marketers Cut Rates, Pump Price Reduction Looms
The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, has fallen across several major Nigerian depots, with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery cutting its wholesale price by N25 per litre, raising expectations that filling stations could begin reducing pump prices as they replenish their stocks.
The latest reductions were recorded in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, following a decline in international crude oil prices and renewed competition among petroleum suppliers.
Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol ex-gantry price from N1,350 to N1,325 per litre, just days after raising the price to N1,350.
The latest adjustment means the refinery has reversed part of the N85 increase introduced on September 12, when its petrol gantry price rose from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre.
Other major depot operators also reduced their prices, particularly in Lagos, where several companies cut their rates by between N20 and N24 per litre.
In Lagos, Ascon, Integrated, Pinnacle and Sahara reduced their petrol prices by N24 to between N1,326 and N1,327 per litre.
MRS reduced its price by N20 to N1,332, while Wosbab was listed at N1,330 per litre.
The reductions were also recorded outside Lagos.
In Calabar, Mainland reduced its petrol price by N7 to N1,320 per litre, while Alkanes cut its price by N2 to N1,325. Matrix retained N1,330, while Sobaz marginally increased its price by N1 to N1,328.
In Port Harcourt, Stockgap reduced its petrol price by N7 to N1,323 per litre, while Masters cut its rate by N2 to N1,328. Bulk Strategic and Sigmund were listed at N1,328, while Matrix retained N1,330.
In Warri, Keonamex reduced its price by N3 to N1,327, while Nepal and Prudent cut their rates to N1,329 and N1,328 respectively. Some operators, however, recorded marginal increases, underscoring the continuing volatility in the downstream market.
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The latest wholesale adjustments followed a decline in global crude prices, with Brent crude trading below $100 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also declined.
The movement is important to Nigeria’s petrol price market because international crude and refined-product prices influence the cost of locally refined products as well as imported PMS.
Brent had climbed as high as about $109 per barrel the previous week before retreating below the $100 mark, although other crude benchmarks have moved differently.
The latest decline has provided some room for refiners and marketers to review wholesale petrol prices downward, but further reductions will depend on the direction of crude prices, foreign exchange conditions and the cost of refined petroleum products.
The reduction at the depots has not, however, immediately translated into equivalent reductions at filling stations.
Petrol was still selling at between about N1,370 and N1,450 per litre in different locations, according to the latest market checks.
In Abuja, motorists and commuters complained that several filling stations had not reduced their pump prices despite the Dangote price cut.
Some stations were still selling petrol at between N1,395 and N1,450 per litre, creating a significant gap between the new Dangote depot price and some retail prices.
The delay is partly linked to the way the deregulated downstream petroleum market operates.
Retailers that purchased their existing stocks at higher prices may continue selling those products at prevailing rates until the stocks are exhausted and replaced with cheaper supplies.
Transportation, storage, logistics, station operating costs and individual marketers’ margins also influence the final pump price.
Consequently, a reduction in the ex-depot price does not automatically translate into an immediate N25 reduction at every filling station.
The latest wholesale price movement nevertheless places additional competitive pressure on retailers, particularly as more marketers begin lifting cheaper products.
It also comes as domestic refining continues to take a larger share of Nigeria’s petrol supply.
Data attributed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that domestic refineries supplied about 76.7 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol requirement in the first quarter of 2026, while petrol imports fell by about 60 per cent year-on-year to approximately 965.5 million litres.
The figures reflect the growing importance of the Dangote Refinery and other domestic refining facilities in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market.
However, imported petrol has not disappeared from the country’s supply chain.
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The Federal Government has approved the importation of 830,000 metric tonnes of petrol for the fourth quarter of 2026, ahead of the Christmas and New Year period when fuel demand traditionally rises.
The permits were reportedly issued to Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy.
The latest allocation represents an increase from earlier import approvals this year and means imported PMS will remain part of Nigeria’s supply mix despite the expansion of domestic refining capacity.
The import programme has also become a point of contention between Dangote Refinery and the downstream regulator.
Dangote Refinery is challenging the continued issuance of petrol import licences by the NMDPRA, arguing that domestic refining capacity is sufficient to meet local demand.
The legal dispute is before the Federal High Court, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on October 7, 2026.
The continuing import programme, however, reflects concerns about supply security.
NMDPRA data cited in industry reports showed that domestic petrol supply declined from about 32.5 million litres per day in June to 25.8 million litres per day in July, while imports increased from approximately 18.1 million litres per day to 19.7 million litres per day during the same period.
Total daily petrol supply consequently fell from 50.6 million litres to 45.5 million litres.
The figures indicate that although domestic refineries now provide the larger share of Nigeria’s petrol, imports can still serve as a buffer when local production falls below market requirements.
Another factor affecting the competitiveness of local refining is import parity.
The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria had estimated petrol import parity at between N1,364.02 and N1,365.02 per litre as of September 17.
Dangote’s new N1,325 per litre price is therefore below that earlier import-parity estimate, although actual import costs continue to change with international prices, exchange rates, freight and other charges.
The development could encourage more marketers to source products from domestic refineries if local products remain commercially competitive with imported alternatives.
It also illustrates the changing structure of Nigeria’s fuel market, where international crude prices remain important but domestic refining capacity, competition and supply availability are increasingly influencing prices.
The Federal Government has also been engaging operators in the downstream sector over petrol pricing and supply.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has convened consultations involving refiners, depot owners, marketers and retailers as the government seeks greater stability in the petroleum market.
For consumers, the immediate issue remains whether the reduction in wholesale prices will translate into cheaper petrol at the pump.
The latest reduction provides room for a downward movement, but the timing and size of any retail price cut will depend on the cost of existing stocks, new depot prices, transportation expenses, market competition and the direction of international crude prices.
The volatility of the market has also been reflected in the diesel segment.
Some depots reduced the price of automotive gas oil, with Lagos recording reductions of up to N15 per litre at some operators, while Port Harcourt and Warri also recorded significant cuts.
The movement in both petrol and diesel prices comes at a time when high energy costs continue to affect transportation, logistics, food distribution and operating expenses for Nigerian households and businesses.
If the lower crude prices persist and wholesale petrol prices remain at the new levels, motorists could see further reductions as cheaper stocks move through the distribution chain.
For now, the latest petrol depot price cuts have created a new opportunity for pump-price reductions, although the immediate impact will vary from one location and retailer to another.
The development also reinforces the increasingly competitive nature of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, with Dangote Refinery, other domestic suppliers and importers competing to meet demand under a deregulated pricing regime.
Petrol Depot Prices Fall as Dangote, Marketers Cut Rates, Pump Price Reduction Looms
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Auto
NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs
NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job
The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.
The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.
The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.
According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.
He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.
He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.
Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.
The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.
lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.
Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.
According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.
“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.
The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.
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Auto
Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion
Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum
Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.
The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.
“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.
To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.
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The T1 enters the market with a focal point on balance—combining off-road capability with urban comfort.
The smart T1 has the following features-
Dimensions: 4,705mm (L) x 1,967mm (W) x 1,843mm (H) |; Wheelbase: 2,800mm; and
Powertrains: 1.5L Turbo / 2.0L Turbo (254 hp, 390 Nm torque).
The drivetrain is BorgWarner XWD Intelligent 4WD | 7-Speed DCT or 8-Speed Automatic. Terrain Capability: 199mm ground clearance, 600mm wading depth, and 28° approach/departure angles.
Other features include 15.6-inch HD touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 platform, 8-speaker audio, 5-seater configuration with 574 litres of rear luggage space, 85 percent high-strength steel chassis alongside a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Since its Nigerian market entry, Jetour has secured several local and international automotive honors, including Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year and Auto Brand of the Year.
Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum
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