General News
DisCos Generate N597.6bn Revenue in Q1 2026 Amid Ongoing Power Supply Challenges
Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria generated a total of N597.55 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026 despite persistent power supply challenges and consumer complaints over service delivery.
The figures are contained in the latest commercial performance factsheets released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
According to the data, the 11 electricity distribution companies collectively recorded N204.74 billion in revenue in January, N196.68 billion in February and N196.13 billion in March, bringing total collections for the three-month period to N597.55 billion.
The report showed that the companies maintained an average monthly revenue collection of about N199.18 billion during the period.
NERC’s data revealed varying levels of commercial performance among the distribution companies, with differences in billing efficiency, collection efficiency and revenue recovery rates.
In January, the DisCos billed customers N268.20 billion and recovered N204.74 billion, leaving N63.46 billion in unpaid bills.
The sector recorded a billing efficiency of 79.72 per cent and a collection efficiency of 76.34 per cent during the month.
In February, total billings stood at N242.29 billion, while collections amounted to N196.68 billion, resulting in an outstanding balance of N45.61 billion.
Billing efficiency improved to 87.44 per cent, while collection efficiency rose to 81.17 per cent.
For March, total billings reached N246.43 billion, with revenue collections of N196.13 billion, leaving a shortfall of N50.30 billion.
Billing and collection efficiencies for the month were recorded at 83.89 per cent and 79.59 per cent respectively.
The report also highlighted significant volumes of unbilled energy across the quarter, indicating ongoing operational and commercial challenges within the electricity distribution segment.
Among the top-performing firms were Eko Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Electric, which consistently posted stronger revenue recovery rates.
Eko DisCo notably achieved a recovery efficiency of over 100 per cent in February, according to the report.
However, some operators continued to face collection challenges.
Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company recorded one of the lowest recovery efficiencies during the review period, posting 41.20 per cent in February.
The NERC commercial performance report tracks key indicators including energy received, energy billed, total billings, revenue collections and recovery efficiency to assess the operational and financial health of electricity distribution companies.
The revenue performance comes against the backdrop of continued complaints from electricity consumers over high tariffs, estimated billing, inadequate metering and frequent power outages.
Nigeria also experienced significant power supply disruptions during the first quarter, largely attributed to gas supply constraints affecting electricity generation.
Industry data indicated that electricity generation at some points declined from about 4,000 megawatts to below 2,000 megawatts due to shortages in gas supply to thermal power plants.
Operational data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that thermal plants require about 1.63 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily to operate optimally.
However, actual gas supply as of Feb. 23, 2026, stood at approximately 692 million standard cubic feet per day, representing less than 43 per cent of required demand.
The shortfall forced several generating plants to reduce output or shut down operations, prompting the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to implement load-shedding measures across the national grid.
Industry stakeholders have continued to advocate improved metering, stronger measures against energy theft and enhanced customer service to improve sector efficiency and revenue collection.
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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