ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Electricity Distribution Companies lost more than 1.13 million customers in 2025 despite supplying more electricity, generating record revenues and expanding metering, according to the latest Nigeria Electricity Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report, titled Nigeria Electricity Report: Energy Billed, Revenue Generated and Customers by DISCOs (Q4 2025) and compiled from data provided by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that although key operational indicators improved across the sector, the total customer base declined significantly during the year.
According to the report, the number of electricity customers dropped from 13.30 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 12.16 million in the corresponding period of 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of 8.52 per cent, or 1,133,390 customers.
The report stated, “Total customer numbers in Q4 2025 stood at 12.16 million, up from 12.03 million in Q3 2025, representing a 1.11 per cent quarter-on-quarter increase. On a year-on-year basis, the number of customers declined by 8.52 per cent, from 13.30 million recorded in Q4 2024.”
The decline occurred despite a 6.76 per cent increase in electricity supplied by the distribution companies, which rose from 6,207.85 gigawatt-hours in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 6,627.56 gigawatt-hours during the same period in 2025.
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Revenue collection also recorded strong growth over the period.
According to the NBS, total revenue generated by the Discos increased by 23.75 per cent year-on-year to N630.93bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from N509.84bn in the corresponding period of 2024. On an annual basis, collections rose from N1.69tn in 2024 to N2.32tn in 2025.
Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company generated the highest annual revenue of N440.86bn, followed by Eko Disco with N420.57bn and Abuja Disco with N375.95bn.
The report also showed significant progress in metering, with the number of metered customers rising from 6.21 million to 6.97 million within one year, representing an increase of 12.18 per cent.
It added that the share of customers using prepaid meters rose from 46.71 per cent in December 2024 to 57.27 per cent in December 2025, while estimated billing declined by 26.67 per cent as the number of unmetered customers fell from 7.09 million to 5.20 million.
It stated, “Similarly, the number of metered customers reached 6.97 million in Q4 2025, representing a 4.58 per cent increase from 6.66 million recorded in the preceding quarter. On a year-on-year basis, metered customers increased by 12.18 per cent.
“In addition, the number of estimated customers stood at 5.20 million in Q4 2025… On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers decreased by 26.67 per cent.”
Despite these improvements, several distribution companies recorded notable customer losses.
Benin Electricity Distribution Company recorded the largest decline, losing 379,616 customers, followed by Kaduna Disco with 341,150 customers and Yola Disco with 311,527 customers.
Ibadan Disco lost 199,409 customers, while Port Harcourt, Kano, Eko and Jos distribution companies also posted declines.
In contrast, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company added 245,129 customers during the period, Abuja Disco gained 146,378 customers, while Ikeja Disco recorded an increase of 22,016 customers.
The decline in customer numbers comes as more households and businesses continue to move away from the national grid due to persistent power outages and rising electricity costs.
In 2024, 24 bulk electricity consumers obtained licences to disconnect from the national grid and generate their own power, while another 22 entities secured off-grid generation permits with a combined installed capacity of about 289 megawatts.
In addition, about 250 manufacturers and tertiary institutions have exited distribution companies’ networks in favour of self-generation because of unreliable electricity supply.
Corporate spending on alternative energy has also continued to rise, with companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange spending N400.83bn on alternative power sources in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 3.66 per cent increase from N386.67bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Companies that separately disclosed electricity expenses also reported an 81.50 per cent increase in power costs, reflecting the combined effects of higher electricity tariffs and continued reliance on diesel, gas and other alternative energy sources.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that electricity supply will improve significantly before the end of the year, stating that the Federal Government is implementing reforms aimed at addressing decades of underinvestment and poor management in the power sector.