The latest report from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has revealed that the number of electricity users in the country saw a notable increase in Q3 2023.

According to the NBS Electricity Report for the first quarter of 2024, released in Abuja on Tuesday, the total number of electricity consumers surged by 210,000, reaching 12.33 million from 12.12 million in the final quarter of 2023.

This growth, representing a 1.78% increase, underscores a significant uptick in electricity usage across Nigeria.

The report further details that Distribution Companies (DISCOS) served a total customer base of 11.27 million during the first three months of 2024, marking a robust 9.47% expansion compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, the number of customers equipped with meters rose to 5.91 million, reflecting a 5.38% increase from the previous quarter. Year-on-year, this figure translates to an 11.26% rise from the first quarter of 2023.

Additionally, the report highlighted a notable increase in estimated electricity users, which reached 6.43 million in Q1 2024, indicating a 10.22% growth from Q4 2023’s figure of 5.83 million.

It said “On a year-on-year basis, the figure grew by 11.26 per cent from the 5.31 million reported in Q1 2023.

In the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria experienced a notable increase in estimated electricity users, reaching 6.43 million—a 10.22% rise from the 5.83 million users recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Comparing year-over-year figures, this marks a 7.88% increase from the 5.96 million users reported in the same period the previous year.

Despite this growth in user numbers, there was a slight dip in revenue for electricity distribution companies.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, these companies earned ₦291.62 billion in the first quarter of 2024, down from ₦294.95 billion in the preceding quarter of 2023.

However, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that despite the slight decrease in revenue from the fourth quarter of 2023, which was ₦291.62 billion in the first quarter of 2024 compared to ₦294.95 billion, there was a notable 17.91% increase from the ₦247.33 billion earned in the first quarter of 2023.

In terms of electricity supply, the report highlighted that the supply in the first quarter of 2024 was 5,769 GWh, down from 6,432 GWh in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Additionally, compared to the first quarter of 2023, which saw a supply of 5,851 GWh, there was a modest 1.41% decrease in supply in the first quarter of 2024.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the socio-economic development of Nigeria, especially in its areas of operations in the Niger Delta.

Director/Head of Corporate Relations, SPDC, Igo Weli, made the statement in Port Harcourt last Friday at a dinner to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Treasure FM, a member of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) network.

Weli said, “Our commitment stretches back to the 1950s, with a wide range of programmes supporting education, infrastructure, community electrification, and business empowerment.”

A key highlight of the anniversary dinner was the presentation of the FRCN Award for Consistent Media Partner to Shell companies in Nigeria.

Weli, who was represented by the Shell Spokesman, Michael Adande, said, “This award serves as a strong reminder that Shell’s dedication to the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region remains a cornerstone of our presence in Nigeria.”

The award recognises Shell’s partnership with FRCN, particularly its support for the weekly live programme Canvas: Niger Delta Roundtable, which fosters crucial discussions on development issues impacting the region.

“While the award itself was unexpected, it reinforces the value of initiatives like Canvas,” Weli added. “This recognition motivates us to keep promoting development, not just in our operational areas but across the entire nation.”

Since 2017, Canvas: Niger Delta Roundtable has aired twice weekly on different radio stations in the Niger Delta with live online streaming. These broadcasts dedicate an hour to exploring topics relevant to the development of the region and its people.

The General Manager, FRCN Treasure FM Port Harcourt, Fred Onyeka Nwaulune, commended Shell’s partnership.

“Shell has been a reliable media partner, consistently educating the Niger Delta region on the importance of dialogue for development and peaceful solutions,” he said. “Their programme aligns perfectly with FRCN’s focus on sustainable development.”

He noted that through the dialogue radio programme, Shell had demonstrated a continued focus on driving progress and positive change in the Niger Delta and beyond.

. . . FG Delighted With Project’s Progress

In yet another major step towards boosting nationwide gas supply to drive industrialization and economic growth, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is set to deliver the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline project.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, confirmed this during an inspection tour of the OB3 pipeline River Niger Crossing operation at Aboh, Delta State, on Saturday.

Biztellers reports that by design, the OB3 Gas pipeline is the inter-connector which links the Eastern gas pipeline network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline in the North.

The River Niger Crossing operation has been the major impediment to the completion of the strategic OB3 Gas Pipeline for over three years due to failure of the various technologies deployed to achieve the construction of the 48-inch pipe under the river bed between Ndoni in Rivers State and Aboh in Delta State.

But with the adoption of the Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology, the new contractors, Messrs HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), are making a headway with about 860meters out of the 1,800meters achieved so far.

After the inspection tour, Kyari expressed delight at the breakthrough, which signals the imminent completion of the project.

“This is a major project of monumental value to our country. What this means is that this is the only way we can deliver the gas revolution. I am very happy and convinced that, latest by the middle of August, we will complete this project. I have been assured of that by the project team”, Kyari stated.

On the significance of the project, he said, “Once completed, we will see about 2.2billion standard cubic feet of gas coming into our network. We believe that this will give our country a breathing space of demand, I am sure we can catch up with that kind of demand in the next one and half years. We are happy that this will give us the platform to unleash the gas revolution in our country”.

Also speaking on the project, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the OB3 River Niger Crossing operation, describing it as “Renewed Hope at work”.

“I was here last year and I saw the work that was going on. There was a promise that it would be completed by December last year. I took it with a doubt. But today, from what I can see, I am confident that by July or August it will be completed and it will be commissioned by the President”, the Minister stated.

On her part, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said she was looking forward to the completion of the project having been assured by the technical team that the right technology has been found to resolve the complex challenges of the River Niger Crossing.

“As the Minister and other speakers have said, we are looking forward to having this project deliver prosperity to Nigerians in the form of electricity and other areas”, Verheijen said.

The Managing Director of Tunnel Service Group (TSG), one of the contractors to the project, Mr. Ingo Justen, who is personally on ground to supervise the project on the request of the GCEO, expressed confidence that the current technology being applied in the execution of the project would lead to its speedy conclusion.

In a presentation earlier, the Managing Director of NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), Engr. Seyi Omotowa, disclosed that at the rate of progress with the new technology deployed, the River Niger Crossing operation, which is the only aspect of the OB3 Gas Pipeline Project left, will be achieved on schedule.