The Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Mr. Mbang Ntukubee, has attributed the reported loss of 1.13 million electricity customers by Nigeria’s distribution companies to inadequate power supply, rising energy costs, and the increasing shift to alternative energy sources.
Speaking on Trade FM’s Ask the Expert segment on the topic, “Discos Lose 1.13 Million Customers Over Rising Energy Costs,” Mr. Ntukubee said many residential and industrial consumers have reduced or abandoned reliance on distribution companies due to unreliable electricity supply. He noted that while some customers have migrated to rooftop solar and other independent power solutions, others have simply cut back on electricity consumption because of high tariffs.
According to him, the financial challenges facing distribution companies are driven less by customer migration and more by electricity theft, meter bypass, aging infrastructure, and technical losses. He explained that electricity not consumed by departing customers is often redistributed to other users, limiting the direct financial impact of customer losses.
Mr. Ntukubee stressed that Nigeria’s power sector requires significant investment in generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. He also called for stronger enforcement against energy theft, improved regulation, and a comprehensive review of the sector involving government, operators, labour unions, and other stakeholders.
He further warned that rising electricity tariffs continue to place heavy pressure on households and small businesses, increasing production costs and slowing economic growth. He urged government to implement reforms that would improve power supply, modernize infrastructure, and make electricity more affordable and accessible across the country.
