Nigerian manufacturers spent N1.34tn on alternative electricity sources in 2025 as persistent power outages forced factories to rely increasingly on diesel generators, gas and other off-grid energy solutions to sustain production.

Data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) obtained by The PUNCH showed that manufacturers’ spending on alternative power increased by about 21 per cent, rising from N1.11tn in 2024 to N1.34tn in 2025.

The latest increase highlights the growing cost of unreliable electricity supply to Nigeria’s industrial sector, with manufacturers increasingly bearing the financial burden of generating the power needed to keep their factories running.

Manufacturers’ Power Costs Surge

MAN data showed that expenditure on alternative electricity has risen significantly over the past decade, despite fluctuations in some years.

Manufacturers spent N25bn on alternative power in 2014, with the figure rising to N59bn in 2015 and N129.95bn in 2016.

The expenditure fell to N117.4bn in 2017 and declined further to N93.11bn in 2018 and N61.38bn in 2019.

Spending rose to N81.91bn in 2020 before dropping to N71.22bn in 2021.

However, the cost began rising sharply from 2022, reaching N144.5bn that year. It surged to N781.7bn in 2023 before crossing the N1tn mark at N1.11tn in 2024.

By 2025, manufacturers’ alternative power bill had climbed further to N1.34tn.

The development has raised concerns about the competitiveness of Nigerian manufacturers, particularly as businesses continue to face weak consumer purchasing power and pressure on operating margins.

Grid Power Supply Drops

MAN, led by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said grid reliability deteriorated significantly in 2025.

According to the association, average daily power supply dropped from 16.7 hours in the first half of 2025 to 13.1 hours in the second half of the year.

The decline has increased manufacturers’ dependence on alternative energy sources, adding substantially to production costs.

Industry stakeholders have continued to call for more reliable electricity supply and increased investment in alternative energy infrastructure to reduce dependence on expensive diesel-powered generation.

Manufacturers Turn Away From DisCos

Many manufacturers are reportedly reducing their reliance on electricity distribution companies, popularly known as DisCos, by deploying gas and low-pour fuel oil (LPFO) to power their production facilities.

The shift is aimed at reducing losses caused by power interruptions during manufacturing operations.

According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), several major companies have obtained permits or licences to generate electricity for their operations.

They include Dangote Industries Limited, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Lafarge Africa, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Mikano International Limited, among others.

Pure Flour Mills Limited in Rivers State obtained a licence to generate 546MW of electricity in 2025, according to NERC.

Dangote Industries Limited also generated about 1,500MW of electricity in 2025, according to Aliko Dangote. The Dangote Refinery alone operates a 435MW power plant, with capacity capable of meeting the total power requirement of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, based on the comparison cited in the report.

Other companies with generation capacities include United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited with 105MW, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc with 70MW and Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc with 90MW.

The growing investment in captive and alternative power generation underscores the extent to which unreliable grid electricity continues to affect Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.

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Severe flooding swept through several communities in Lagos State on Tuesday after hours of heavy rainfall submerged homes, inundated major roads and disrupted electricity supply in parts of the state.

Residents in areas including FESTAC, Gbagada, Ajah, Ikeja, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele were left stranded as floodwaters overwhelmed drainage systems, forcing commuters to wade through waterlogged streets while motorists struggled to navigate submerged roads.

Videos circulating on social media showed residents moving through flooded streets, with some roads rendered impassable by rising water levels.

In Ikeja, floodwaters reportedly entered homes and business premises, prompting some residents to temporarily relocate for safety. Residents blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage channels, poor road design and indiscriminate refuse disposal.

A resident, Abidemi Raji, alleged that a drainage channel linking parts of the community had been obstructed following nearby construction activities, worsening the flooding situation.

The downpour also affected FESTAC in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, where roads and inner streets were submerged, disrupting movement and economic activities.

The flooding triggered electricity outages in several communities after floodwaters affected facilities at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station. In a public notice, Ikeja Electric said severe flooding damaged two power transformers and several 33kV feeders, disrupting supply to areas including Bariga, Gbagada, Oworo, Pedro, Alapere, Agboyi and surrounding communities.

The company said it was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power as soon as repairs were completed.

The impact of the heavy rainfall extended into neighbouring Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo appealed for urgent government intervention, saying annual flooding had damaged buildings, disrupted transportation and exposed residents to health risks.

Reacting to the development, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the rainfall as an extreme weather event that temporarily overwhelmed existing drainage infrastructure.

He disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had approved the dredging of 28 additional primary drainage channels across the state as part of measures to improve flood control and reduce the impact of future downpours.

Wahab noted that Lagos’ coastal geography, characterised by lagoons, rivers and tidal water bodies, often slows the discharge of stormwater into the sea during high tides, making temporary flooding likely during periods of intense rainfall.

He urged residents to refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels, avoid illegal reclamation of wetlands and comply with environmental regulations designed to reduce flooding.

The commissioner also advised motorists to stay away from flooded roads during heavy rainfall and urged residents in vulnerable communities to adhere to weather advisories and safety guidelines issued by relevant authorities.

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The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has cancelled the 10-day power outage earlier scheduled to affect parts of Enugu State.

In a statement on Thursday, EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, said the outage, initially set to run from Wednesday, October 22 to Friday, October 31, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily, was suspended due to unforeseen technical constraints.

He explained that the decision followed communication from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The planned outage, announced earlier by MEDL, was to affect several 33KV feeders in Enugu metropolis on a rotational basis, including Kingsway Lines 1 and 2, Emene Industrial Lines 1 and 2, Thinkers Corner, Trans-Ekulu, Ugwuogo, and Ituku Ozalla.

Ezeh added that a new schedule for the maintenance exercise would be communicated once confirmed and apologized to customers for any inconvenience caused by the change.

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MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has announced a planned power outage across Enugu metropolis from Tuesday, October 22, to Thursday, October 31, 2025. The daily interruptions will occur between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to a statement issued by Mr. Emeka Ezeh, Head of Corporate Communications, on Monday.

The outage, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is part of ongoing rehabilitation and reinforcement projects by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) at its New Haven Station. The exercise will be carried out in segments, with different power lines affected on specific days to allow for systematic maintenance and upgrades.

Ezeh explained that the effort aims to improve power reliability, safety, and quality across the city. MainPower urged residents and businesses to plan ahead and make alternative arrangements during the maintenance period.

Schedule of Affected Power Lines:

• Oct. 22: Kingsway Line 1
• Oct. 23: Emene Industrial Line 1
• Oct. 24: Thinkers Corner Line
• Oct. 25: Trans Ekulu Line
• Oct. 26: Kingsway Line 2 & 9th Mile Line
• Oct. 28: Emene Industrial Line 2
• Oct. 29: Ugwuogo Line
• Oct. 31: Ituku Ozalla Line

Areas to be Affected:

Power supply will be disrupted in areas including Emene Industrial Layout, Abakpa Nike, Transekulu, Thinkers Corner, Ugbo Nnebedum, Nkpologwu, 9th Mile, Shoprite, Golf Estate, Zoo Estate, Okpara Avenue, and parts of Kingsway Road, Abakaliki Road, CBN Quarters, Railway Quarters, Artisan, Ngwo, Coal Camp, Uwani, Asata, Golden Royale, Iva Valley, Centenary City, Ugwuaji, Amechi, and Obeagu.

MainPower expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and appealed for public understanding during the period.

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According to spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, the scheduled maintenance will occur on February 22 and 23, 2025.

Power outages will last seven hours daily, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., affecting several key areas.

On February 22, power interruptions will impact National Hospital, G2 Injection Station, Garki, Area 1, and Asokoro.

On February 23, outages will affect Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo Resettlement, Gudu, and Apo Mechanic areas.

TCN stated Abuja DisCo cannot receive bulk power supply during the critical transformer maintenance period.

Power will be restored immediately after the completion of maintenance, ensuring minimal disruption to consumers.

Mbah apologized for inconvenience caused, assuring the public of TCN’s commitment to reliable power services.

Additionally, TCN engineers in Kaduna are constructing a new switchyard for Kaduna-Jos transmission line bay.

This project aims to reduce existing line limitations, improve grid flexibility, and boost power reliability.

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In Abuja, while accepting the findings from a committee established to investigate these collapses, Adelabu highlighted that many of the issues in 2024 were due to equipment theft and deliberate damage. 

He added that poor maintenance practices and other external challenges also played a role, emphasizing that the government is addressing the problem as a matter of urgency.

Adelabu pledged that the ministry would examine the committee’s findings, make necessary adjustments, and present them to President Bola Tinubu. 

The committee, led by Nafisat Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator, cited critical failures such as lightning arrestor damage at Jebba and Oshogbo stations on October 14 and a CT explosion at Jebba on October 19.

The committee proposed revising relay protocols within a month, boosting training for maintenance and operations staff, and conducting tests on key equipment. 

Ali noted that recommendations with financial implications would be included in the 2025 budget or supported through additional funding. She also praised the efforts of colleagues and partners for quick responses that kept grid disruptions under 24 hours.

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This decision comes in response to the eighth grid collapse in the past 10 months, the latest of which occurred on Saturday, leaving many Nigerians in darkness.

The most recent incident is the third grid disturbance in just one week, raising serious concerns about the stability of the country’s electricity supply. In a statement posted on its official X handle, NERC expressed its alarm over the ongoing disruptions, warning that the frequent collapses could undo recent advancements in grid infrastructure and stability.

Although significant progress has been made in restoring power, NERC confirmed that electricity was largely restored by 1 PM in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In line with the Electricity Act 2023, NERC is also in the process of unbundling the System Operator function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a bid to improve grid management and attract more investment into infrastructure.

NERC stated that the upcoming public hearing will aim to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the recurring grid collapses. Details of the hearing will soon be made available in national dailies, and all stakeholders are urged to participate.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the latest grid collapse to an explosion at the Jebba Transmission Station. According to TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the blast triggered a temporary disturbance, but power restoration efforts are underway. Engineers at the station have isolated the faulty equipment and reconfigured the busbar arrangement, ensuring the resumption of power supply to affected areas.

This incident marks the third disturbance within a week and adds to the growing number of national grid failures that have plagued Nigeria’s electricity sector. The Federal Government has vowed to investigate the ongoing collapses and find a lasting solution.

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The outage, which began on January 2, 2024, was caused by the failure of a 500KVA transformer that serves over 1,000 households.

The affected communities include ECWA Good News and its environs, Old Viva Street, Ogunmodede Street, Asoore Close, Gideon Close, Dominion Church Street, Old Fire Service Street, and parts of Ibrahim Yaro Way.

Residents have made numerous efforts to restore power, including repairing the transformer twice at their own expense, spending over N2 million, but with no success. The community, concerned for their safety and well-being, especially during the night, has appealed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the Bwari Area Council chairman, and federal lawmakers representing the area for a new transformer.

READ ALSO: AEDC Declares Power Outage Amid Heavy Rainfall

In a letter signed by Bishop David Asoore, the community chairman, and Mr. John Zaka, the community representative, the residents requested immediate assistance to resolve the power issue. Despite the involvement of an AEDC area manager, who is also affected by the blackout, the problem persists.

READ ALSO: HDAN Expresses Concern Over Power Outages in Abuja, Calls for Government Action

A senior AEDC staff member, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the ongoing blackout and stated that the faulty transformer had been sent to the head office for repairs. He also assured that the community would receive a new transformer before the end of May.

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The 132kv transmission line and substation are part of the government’s effort to develop the Niger Delta and boost the economy. Tinubu emphasized the importance of power supply for economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC’s Managing Director, stated that the project would benefit over 2,000 communities in Ondo South.

It aims to reconnect the region to the national grid after years without electricity, supporting local businesses and the government’s power sector efforts. Ogbuku highlighted the project’s role in stimulating economic growth, job creation, and development in Ondo State.

READ ALSO: Senate Plenary Delayed as Power Outage Hits National Assembly Complex

NDDC is set to inaugurate 92 infrastructure projects worth N84 billion in five states, including the power project in Ondo.

The initiative seeks to bridge infrastructural gaps, create an enabling environment for economic activities, and enhance electricity supply to communities in the Niger Delta.

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