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Nigeria Power Sector Crisis: DisCos Lose ₦2.3trn as Blackouts Intensify
Nigeria Power Sector Crisis: DisCos Lose ₦2.3trn as Blackouts Intensify
Nigeria’s electricity crisis has worsened significantly as Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) recorded a combined loss of ₦2.349 trillion over the past two years, driven by billing inefficiencies and weak revenue collection, further destabilising the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
At a time when homes and businesses are already grappling with worsening power outages, the sector is now burdened by an estimated ₦6 trillion debt, pushing it closer to systemic failure and raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of electricity supply across the country.
Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) show that DisCos posted ₦1.015 trillion loss in 2024, which surged by 31.4 per cent to ₦1.334 trillion in 2025. This brings the cumulative loss within the two-year period to ₦2.349 trillion, underscoring deep-rooted inefficiencies in the distribution segment of Nigeria’s power value chain.
A detailed breakdown of the 2025 figures highlights the scale of the problem. Losses from billing inefficiencies alone stood at ₦649.87 billion, while poor revenue collection accounted for ₦684.28 billion, reflecting persistent leakages that continue to drain the sector’s finances despite rising revenues.
Quarterly data further reveal fluctuations in losses throughout 2025. DisCos recorded ₦378.11 billion in the first quarter, followed by ₦344.7 billion in the second quarter. Losses declined by 18 per cent to ₦282.8 billion in the third quarter, before rising again by 16 per cent to ₦328.54 billion in the fourth quarter, indicating inconsistent operational performance.
The growing financial strain is now clearly impacting electricity generation and supply. Industry data show that average power generation has dropped from about 4,600 megawatts in 2025 to below 3,500MW in early 2026, worsening electricity shortages nationwide. Generation Companies (GenCos), which are owed over ₦6 trillion, are increasingly unable to sustain operations, forcing many plants to scale down output or shut down units intermittently.
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The situation has been compounded by gas supply constraints, as suppliers cut deliveries due to unpaid invoices. This has significantly reduced generation capacity and deepened the supply deficit, triggering a resurgence of rolling blackouts across the country.
As a result, many Nigerians now receive less than 12 hours of electricity daily, with some communities experiencing as little as four to six hours of supply. In parts of Abuja, including Karu and Lokogoma under the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), electricity supply reportedly drops to barely three hours daily, leaving residents and businesses struggling with rising energy costs.
Similarly, areas under the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), including Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and Oleh in Delta State, continue to face erratic power supply, with prolonged outages and widespread complaints over high estimated billing despite poor service delivery.
In a move that reflects declining confidence in the national grid, the Presidential Villa in Abuja has commenced plans to exit grid electricity entirely. The project involves a ₦17 billion solar hybrid mini-grid, designed to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the seat of government and reduce dependence on the unstable grid.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders, including officials of AEDC, who argue that improved investment in network upgrades and energy storage could have ensured stable supply without abandoning the grid.
Consumers and advocacy groups have continued to express frustration over the situation. The Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria (ECAN) has accused DisCos of exploiting customers through estimated billing, which many describe as arbitrary and unfair. According to the association, inflated bills and poor service have contributed significantly to widespread resistance to payment, further worsening revenue collection challenges.
Energy experts have identified metering gaps as a major driver of the crisis. Without accurate metering, electricity consumption cannot be properly measured, leading to billing disputes and revenue leakages. Analysts insist that end-to-end metering across generation, transmission, and distribution is critical to restoring transparency and financial stability in the sector.
There are also growing concerns about the lack of strong policy direction and sustained reforms. Experts warn that the expectation of government bailouts may be encouraging inefficiency among operators, as stakeholders assume the Federal Government will continue to intervene financially to keep the sector afloat.
The deepening crisis highlights a dangerous cycle of financial losses, declining power generation, and worsening electricity supply, with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy and quality of life.
Unless urgent reforms are implemented—including mass metering, improved revenue collection, cost-reflective tariffs, and stronger regulatory enforcement—Nigeria’s power sector risks sliding into a full-scale collapse, leaving millions of consumers in prolonged darkness.
Nigeria Power Sector Crisis: DisCos Lose ₦2.3trn as Blackouts Intensify
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Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy
Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy
Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy has stirred conversations about marriage, love, and long-term relationships after candidly admitting that being married to the same woman for 48 years can become “boring.”
The outspoken media personality, whose real name is Charles Oputa, made the remark during an interview on Yanga FM, where he reflected on nearly five decades of married life with his wife, Lady Diane Oputa.
Using a humorous analogy, Charly Boy compared his marriage to eating the same meal every day, saying routine is inevitable in long-lasting relationships.
“I’ve been married to one woman for 48 years. It is very boring. Imagine eating the same egusi for years, it’s boring now,” he said.

Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy real name Charles Oputa and his wife, Lady Diane Oputa
Although the comment quickly generated reactions on social media, the entertainer clarified that successful marriages are not built on excitement alone but on commitment, understanding and the willingness to work through challenges together.
According to him, every marriage requires continuous effort, patience and effective management, regardless of how long the couple has been together.
Charly Boy disclosed that despite spending nearly five decades together, he and his wife still argue almost every day, but they have developed a culture of resolving disagreements instead of allowing them to create lasting divisions.
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“All marriages are management, including my own. Me and my wife be like Tom and Jerry. We dey quarrel every day and we will continue to dey quarrel and settle am.
“No day we no dey quarrel. No day we no dey settle the quarrel. We go dey fix the quarrel dey go because, as oyinbo people talk say, the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.”
The veteran entertainer explained that conflicts should not be interpreted as signs of a failing relationship, stressing that disagreements are natural when two individuals with different personalities and perspectives choose to build a life together.
Rather than avoiding arguments, he believes couples should focus on communication, forgiveness and finding common ground whenever misunderstandings arise.
The Area Fada, known for his unconventional lifestyle and outspoken opinions, has long been regarded as one of Nigeria’s most enduring public figures. Ironically, despite his rebellious image, his marriage to Lady Diane has remained one of the country’s longest-lasting celebrity unions.
Over the years, Charly Boy has consistently credited mutual respect, friendship, loyalty and acceptance as the pillars that have sustained their relationship through life’s ups and downs.
His latest comments have reignited discussions about the realities of long-term marriage, with many social media users interpreting his use of the word “boring” as a reference to routine rather than dissatisfaction.
Relationship experts often note that marriages naturally evolve beyond the excitement of the early years and are sustained by shared experiences, trust, compromise and emotional maturity.
Reflecting on his own journey, Charly Boy suggested that accepting a partner’s imperfections and choosing to stay committed despite daily challenges remain some of the biggest secrets to a lasting relationship.
His remarks have once again sparked debate online, with many praising his honesty and others arguing that routine is an unavoidable part of enduring love.
Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy
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Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains
Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains
- The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has attributed the rising cost of cooking gas to high landing costs, even as the Federal Government convenes an emergency meeting with security agencies including the DSS, EFCC, and the Nigeria Police Force to tackle hoarding and illegal diversion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas across the country.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, has blamed high landing costs for the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise called ‘cooking gas’ in the country. Umar stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to address the recent increase in LPG prices and develop coordinated measures to improve supply, affordability, and market stability. “High landing costs continue to influence LPG prices, but the ongoing measures across the value chain would begin to ease market pressures in the coming weeks,” Umar said. He added that the authority is working with producers and other stakeholders to increase domestic supply, strengthen market oversight, and support interventions that will improve availability.
The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources convened an emergency stakeholders’ engagement involving the Department of State Services (DSS) , the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , and the Nigeria Police Force to address LPG hoarding and illegal diversion to neighbouring countries. The meeting brought together key government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators, and industry associations to examine factors contributing to rising LPG prices and agree on practical interventions to strengthen the value chain. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, directed security agencies to support regulators in preventing diversion, hoarding, illegal storage, and disruption of legitimate supply movement along key LPG corridors. He warned that the government would not allow market forces to thwart its efforts in ensuring availability and affordability of LPG.
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In a presentation, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, identified several major factors affecting LPG pricing, including infrastructure gaps, domestic supply constraints, logistics challenges, market distortions, and global supply disruptions. The NMDPRA also attributed the supply challenges to continued exports of locally produced LPG, global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, inadequate import volumes, and what it described as non-cost-reflective pricing practices. The regulator maintained that the full domestication of locally produced LPG would significantly improve availability and reduce pressure on prices.
Despite the challenges, the NMDPRA reported improvements following recent engagements with producers, suppliers, and terminal operators. National LPG supply sufficiency increased from 11 days to 22 days, while average daily supply rose from 4,262 metric tonnes in May 2026 to 5,040 metric tonnes in June 2026. However, the regulator projected that there could be a supply gap of 165,000 metric tonnes in the third quarter of 2026 if corrective measures were not urgently implemented. To address this, the NMDPRA announced it would issue additional import permits to bridge the projected shortfall. According to data presented at the meeting, four imported LPG cargoes were discharged in Lagos within the first 19 days of June 2026, totalling about 16,000 metric tonnes. The imports were made by marketers including Algasco LPG and Rainoil Limited. An additional 44,100 metric tonnes of locally produced LPG is expected to enter the market before the end of June.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the rising LPG prices for Nigerians and has directed relevant agencies to take proactive steps to address the situation. Ekpo emphasised that increased supply should be supported by efficient logistics, improved infrastructure, and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure consumers benefit from interventions across the sector. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described LPG as a critical energy source for households and an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda. She noted that rising LPG prices are putting additional pressure on household budgets and increasing the cost of essential goods, stressing the need for collective action to improve access to affordable cooking gas.
Stakeholders across the LPG value chain pledged their support for government efforts while highlighting challenges affecting storage, transportation, distribution, and market efficiency. The measures agreed on include intensified market monitoring, improved enforcement against malpractice, expansion of storage and distribution infrastructure, increased domestic production, enhanced product tracking systems, improved access to market data, and stronger collaboration among industry players. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) expressed concern over what it described as profiteering by middlemen in the LPG value chain, insisting that market distortions rather than supply shortages were increasingly contributing to high consumer prices. Former Chairman of the association, Oladapo Olatunbosun, urged regulators to ensure that the benefits of improved domestic supply reached end-users and were not captured by intermediaries through excessive mark-ups and speculative trading.
Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains
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Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation
Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation
- The Ogun State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit has killed two suspected kidnappers and secured the release of an abducted victim in a successful intelligence-led operation at Ogbe village. Items recovered include a single-barrel gun, one expended cartridge, mobile phones, and ₦2.2 million cash believed to be proceeds of criminal activity.
The operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have secured the release of an abducted victim in an incident that happened at Ogbe village on June 11. The victim had been held captive by the kidnappers for seven days before the police intervention. They equally neutralised two suspected kidnappers while securing the safe release of the victim. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, explained that the Command swung into action upon receipt of the information by deploying its Anti-Kidnapping Unit to secure the victim’s release and bring the perpetrators to justice. Through sustained intelligence gathering, strategic surveillance, and relentless operational pressure mounted on the criminal gang, the victim was eventually released unharmed on June 18, 2026.
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Following the victim’s rescue, the police intensified efforts to apprehend members of the gang and subsequently traced them to a hideout within the state based on credible intelligence. The suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives in an attempt to evade arrest, resulting in a fierce gun duel. Two of the suspected kidnappers were killed during the exchange, while other members of the gang escaped into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds. Babaseyi said the Command would ensure that those responsible did not evade justice, while the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit intensified follow-up operations and embarked on a coordinated manhunt for the suspects. “The Command has since intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing gang members, while investigations continue,” he stated.
Items recovered as exhibits from the kidnappers, according to Babaseyi, included one single-barrel gun; one expended cartridge; a mobile phone; the sum of Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦2,200,000); and other exhibits linked to the criminal enterprise. Babaseyi said the successful operation is a testament to the effectiveness of the intelligence-driven and proactive crime-fighting strategies being vigorously pursued by the Ogun State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, in ensuring the safety and security of residents across the state. The CP appreciated the gallantry, professionalism, courage, and operational effectiveness of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, stating that the success reinforces the Command’s resolve to relentlessly pursue kidnappers and other violent criminals wherever they may seek refuge. The CP reiterated that Ogun State will remain hostile terrain for criminal elements and assured residents that the Command will continue to deploy intelligence-led policing, robust tactical operations, and strategic partnerships with communities to protect lives and property.
He further urged members of the public to remain security conscious and continue to provide timely, useful, and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminality. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police. The Ogun State Police Command continues to appeal to residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by sharing actionable intelligence that could help prevent crimes and bring offenders to justice.
Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation
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