The Federal Government is weighing new measures to stabilize Nigeria’s power supply by introducing a dedicated tariff structure that supports gas-to-power initiatives. This comes amid growing concerns over payment delays and funding gaps threatening the sustainability of key gas-fired power stations across the country.
At a recent strategy meeting held at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headquarters in Abuja, top government officials and energy stakeholders explored financial and policy options to keep critical thermal power plants running efficiently. Among those in attendance were Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; Finance and Economy Minister, Wale Edun; and senior executives from NNPCL, led by Dr. Salihu Jamari.
Discussions centered around the financial strain affecting the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, Okpai Phase 2 Independent Power Plant, and Kano IPP Phase 1. These projects, operated under the NNPCL’s leadership, are reportedly facing serious operational hurdles due to delayed payments and tariff shortfalls within the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) framework.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson to the Petroleum Minister, Louis Ibah, it was revealed that the NNPCL team flagged the funding bottlenecks as a risk to both power delivery and broader regional development goals. Without timely intervention, the company warned, energy supply in critical regions could face disruption, potentially impacting economic activity and public welfare.
Minister Ekpo stressed the need to quickly resolve the challenges, noting that efficient gas-to-power infrastructure is vital for reliable electricity generation and national economic growth. He highlighted the importance of these projects to industrial zones like Maiduguri and Kano, as well as their role in boosting the national grid via Okpai.
Finance Minister Edun echoed this urgency, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to craft a long-term financial model that ensures both the viability of power plants and a steady national power supply.
A follow-up session involving the Minister of Power is already in the works, aimed at fast-tracking concrete solutions to keep the affected facilities operational and to strengthen Nigeria’s gas-to-electricity transition.
