Nigeria's Power Firms Collect N204bn Amid N131bn Losses

In January 2026, Nigerian power distribution companies (discos) reported a total revenue collection of N204.74 billion, reflecting a collection efficiency of 76.34%. Despite this, the sector experienced a significant revenue gap of N131 billion, attributed to unpaid bills amounting to N63.46 billion issued to customers.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) disclosed these figures in its January 2026 commercial performance factsheet. The average tariff stood at N124.30 per kilowatt-hour, while the actual average collection was notably lower at N85.97 per kilowatt-hour, resulting in an overall revenue recovery efficiency of 69.16%.

This represents an 8.10 percentage point decline compared to December 2025. The report highlighted varying performance among the 11 discos, with Eko Electricity Distribution Company achieving the highest recovery efficiency at 87.92%, while Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company recorded the lowest at 36.29%.

The findings underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria's power sector, including energy theft and poor metering.