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The Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Honourable Nwokolo Victor Onyemaechi, has charged electricity distribution companies (DisCos) with outstanding market obligations to take urgent steps to clear their debts, stressing that improved liquidity is critical to strengthening the electricity market and ensuring the sustainability of the power sector.
The indebted DisCos are Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) and Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
In a statement, Onyemaechi expressed concern over the accumulation of market debts by the affected DisCos, noting that prolonged failure to meet financial obligations could adversely affect the liquidity and sustainability of the electricity market.
He, therefore, called on IBEDC and other indebted DisCos to make every effort within their capacity to settle their outstanding obligations and strengthen compliance with the rules governing the electricity market.
Welcoming the lawmakers to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) office in Abuja, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Abdu Bello Mohammed, commended the committee for its oversight role and continued support for reforms in Nigeria’s electricity sector. He noted that the establishment of NISO was a significant outcome of the reforms introduced under the Electricity Act, 2023, which provided the framework for the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the establishment of an independent System Operator. Mohammed briefed the committee on NISO’s journey since its establishment, its mandate and its comprehensive five-year development plan, designed to guide the organisation’s efforts towards strengthening system operations, improving electricity market operations, enhancing system planning and supporting the effective co-ordination of Nigeria’s power system.
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He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the National Assembly, NISO and other institutions within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in addressing the structural and financial challenges confronting the sector.
While commending the committee for lending its voice to the issue of market defaults by DisCos, the NISO MD/CEO stressed that improved liquidity across the electricity market would strengthen the capacity of market participants to meet their obligations, sustain operations and ultimately contribute to improved service delivery to electricity consumers.
Mohammed appealed for continued support and constructive oversight from the National Assembly, noting that sustained collaboration among the various institutions in the sector remains critical to strengthening the electricity market, stabilising the national grid and advancing efforts towards a more reliable and sustainable electricity supply in Nigeria.
