Electricity distribution companies in northern Nigeria have lost about ₦74 billion between July and September 2024 due to persistent power blackouts, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The blackouts worsened following the vandalism of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which supplies power to the region. This led to two weeks of complete power outages in 17 northern states, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Borno, and Plateau.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria confirmed the country’s 10th grid collapse of the year on November 5. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s spokesperson, said, “The national grid experienced a partial disturbance due to a series of line and generator trippings, which caused grid instability.”
Power disruptions in October included three separate grid collapses, further paralyzing electricity supply in many areas.
The losses suffered by the five northern electricity distribution companies—Kano, Abuja, Yola, Kaduna, and Jos Discos—totalled ₦73.68 billion over three months.
In July, the Discos issued electricity bills worth ₦66.17 billion but could only collect ₦46.4 billion, resulting in a ₦19.7 billion loss. Losses rose to ₦22.69 billion in August as collections dropped to ₦46.92 billion from bills worth ₦69.61 billion. By September, losses hit ₦31.22 billion after the Discos collected only ₦42.31 billion out of ₦73.61 billion.
Kano Disco faced the highest losses in September, losing ₦11.88 billion after collecting just ₦3.07 billion of its ₦14.95 billion bill.
The Federal Government blamed the worsening power situation on attacks on infrastructure. The Discos’ commercial performance fact sheet highlighted Kano Disco’s total three-month losses at ₦23.35 billion, Abuja at ₦18.87 billion, Yola at ₦5.76 billion, Kaduna at ₦10.68 billion, and Jos at ₦15.02 billion.
