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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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Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
Lafia, Nasarawa State – In a major crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered 174 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition during a routine patrol along the Toto–Abaji Road.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the development in an official statement issued on Wednesday in Lafia. He described the operation as part of the command’s sustained offensive against illegal arms proliferation and rising insecurity in the state.
According to Nansel, police operatives attached to the Toto Division intercepted the suspect, identified as Abubakar Abdullahi, on June 22, 2026, while conducting a stop-and-search patrol along the strategic corridor. A thorough search of his belongings uncovered 174 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, the type widely used in AK-47 rifles—a weapon frequently linked to banditry, kidnapping, and rural violence across North-Central Nigeria.
“The suspect could not provide any credible explanation regarding the source, ownership, or intended destination of the ammunition,” Nansel stated. “He is currently in custody, and intensive investigations are ongoing to unravel the criminal network behind this illegal consignment and apprehend other accomplices.”
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Security analysts note that the Toto–Abaji axis has become a noted transit route for arms smuggling, often used to ferry weapons into Nasarawa and neighbouring states. This seizure is seen as a significant blow to the logistics chain of criminal elements operating in the region.
Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police for Nasarawa State, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance on arms trafficking and all forms of violent crime. He stressed that the police have intensified intelligence-led surveillance, strategic road patrols, and community partnerships to deny criminals freedom of movement.
“There will be no safe haven for criminals in Nasarawa State,” CP Mohammed declared. “We are determined to identify, track, and bring every offender to justice. We will continue to deploy all lawful measures to safeguard residents and maintain public security.”
The commissioner also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information. He assured the public that all shared intelligence would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
This operation underscores the Nasarawa Police Command’s proactive approach to curbing the inflow of illegal weapons, which many experts regard as a primary driver of farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping-for-ransom, and armed banditry in the state.
Nasarawa Police Arrest Gunrunner, Seize 174 AK-47 Rounds in Toto
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Senate Erupts as Lawmakers Initially Block Govs, Gbajabiamila, AGF From Historic State Police Session
Senate Erupts as Lawmakers Initially Block Govs, Gbajabiamila, AGF From Historic State Police Session
A dramatic showdown unfolded at the National Assembly on Wednesday after senators initially rejected a move by the Senate leadership to admit governors and top government officials into the Red Chamber during deliberations on the proposed State Police Bill, one of the most significant constitutional reforms before the 10th National Assembly.
The high-profile delegation included Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, as well as the Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice of Ondo, Anambra and Akwa Ibom states.
The dignitaries had arrived at the Senate to observe deliberations and voting on the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police Services, a proposal widely regarded as a major step toward overhauling Nigeria’s security architecture.
Tension rose shortly after plenary began when Senate President Godswill Akpabio appealed to lawmakers to permit what he described as “strangers” into the chamber. Acting on the request, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion under Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Rules, which allows non-members to be admitted under special circumstances.
In an unexpected twist, senators overwhelmingly rejected the motion through a voice vote, leaving the visitors waiting outside the chamber and briefly stalling proceedings. The rejection exposed an unusual display of independence by lawmakers during one of the Senate’s most closely watched constitutional sessions.
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Determined to secure access for the visitors, Akpabio made a fresh appeal, urging senators to consider the national importance of the constitutional amendment process. He directed Bamidele to present the motion again, with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin seconding the request.
When the motion was put to a second voice vote, Akpabio called only for the “Ayes,” which appeared noticeably fewer than the number of senators present. As louder dissenting voices echoed through the chamber, the Senate President did not call for the “Nays” before ruling that the motion had been carried and bringing down the gavel.
His decision cleared the way for the governors, ministers and other senior officials to enter the Red Chamber and witness proceedings on the landmark constitutional amendment.
The brief standoff also highlighted growing political tensions between some governors and the senators representing their states. Sources within the National Assembly said several lawmakers remain aggrieved after allegedly losing their chances of securing party tickets for the 2027 general elections due to the influence of incumbent governors within their state political structures.
At the centre of the day’s proceedings is the proposed State Police Bill, a constitutional amendment strongly backed by the Tinubu administration as part of broader efforts to address insecurity across the country.
Supporters argue that creating state police will strengthen intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities. Opponents, however, have warned that without adequate constitutional safeguards, state police could be exploited for political purposes.
Beyond the state police proposal, senators are also considering several far-reaching constitutional amendments, including the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, the introduction of independent candidacy for elections, constitutional recognition of traditional institutions, and guaranteed funding for the Armed Forces through a first-line charge.
Adding to the significance of the exercise, the Senate is deploying electronic voting for the constitutional amendment process, replacing the traditional voice vote system with a digital platform that records, displays and preserves each senator’s vote for greater transparency and accountability.
With proceedings still underway, attention remains fixed on the Red Chamber as lawmakers deliberate on reforms that could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing system, governance structure and democratic institutions, making Wednesday’s session one of the most consequential in the country’s Fourth Republic.
Senate Erupts as Lawmakers Initially Block Govs, Gbajabiamila, AGF From Historic State Police Session
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metro
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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