Wednesday, March 4, 2026
spot_img

National grid risks collapse as premium customers switch to solar

Nigeria’s national electricity grid is facing a fresh liquidity crisis as wealthy households and manufacturers abandon public supply for solar and self-generation.

Government liabilities to power generation companies (GenCos) have climbed to ₦5.6 trillion and could hit ₦6.2 trillion by December 2025. Only 13% of commercial customers still rely on the grid, down from 20%, while manufacturers spent about ₦1 trillion on private power in 2024 alone.

The shift has left the government with a ₦200 billion monthly tariff shortfall, as electricity subsidies fail to keep pace with rising arrears. Analysts warn that without urgent reforms and a credible debt repayment plan, the grid could be left serving mainly low-income households, with an additional ₦1 trillion yearly needed to prevent collapse.

Yusuf Mohammed
Yusuf Mohammedhttp://yusufcolumnist@gmail.com
Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Yusuf Writes, is a seasoned Nigerian journalist, writer, and public scholar. He is the founder and publisher of The Columnist NG, a platform dedicated to publishing articles by Nigeria’s most respected thinkers and writers. A graduate of Al-Hikmah University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and International Relations, Yusuf began his journalism career in 2013 at Business Hallmark. He went on to work at New Telegraph (2015–2017) and played a pivotal role as a pioneer staff member of The Next Edition in 2017, helping establish it as a credible online platform through his well-researched special reports. In 2019, he returned to Business Hallmark before launching The Columnist NG. His work has appeared in Daily Trust, Premium Times, The Cable, Newswatch, and other leading Nigerian publications. In 2020, his tribute to football legend Diego Maradona was published in three different magazines, including Air Peace In-flight Magazine. Currently a contributing editor and writer at Newswatch Plus, Yusuf’s journalism focuses on culture, politics, public health, and human rights, with a growing body of work addressing complex issues such as Scleroderma, jungle justice, and historical memory in Nigeria. In recognition of his growing influence, Dr. Reuben Abati, one of Nigeria’s foremost journalists and statesmen, praised him on his birthday, saying: “You are the son of a great father - and you are distinguished in your own right.” Yusuf Mohammed maintains a verified presence on Instagram, where he continues to engage audiences with reflections on society, identity, and the written word.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -
Google search engine

Most Popular

Who is Listening?

The disappearing voters

BVAS: INEC’s game changer

Recent Comments