DisCos’ revenue surges 450% as unpaid bills reach N700 billion

Revenue collected by Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) rose about 450% between the first halves of 2018 and 2026, from N218.16 billion to N1.2 trillion. Over the same period, electricity supply grew by just 4.8%, while average available generation capacity fell by 41%. In the first half of 2026, DisCos collected N1.2 trillion against N1.9 trillion worth of energy received, leaving N700.53 billion uncollected. Thirteen years after power-sector privatisation, the Rural Electrification Agency estimates that 85 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity.