Nigeria’s Electricity Customers Increase By 3.4% In 2023 Fourth Quarter, NBS Reveals

Nigeria's electricity customers increased from 11.71 million in the third quarter of 2023 to 12.12 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, as per National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.

The bureau shared this increased customer base while revealing energy bills, revenue generated and customers by DisCos on Monday.

"Total customer numbers in Q4 2023 stood at 12.12 million from 11.71 million in Q3 2023, showing an increase of 3.46%," the NBS said, Premium Times reported. "On a year-on-year basis, this grew by 9.38% from the figure reported in Q4 2022, which was 5.13 million."

Compared to the same period last year, customer numbers in Q4 2023 increased by 9.59%, rising from 11.06 million to 12.12 million. Meanwhile, metered customers decreased slightly from 5.68 million to 5.61 million, showing a growth rate decline of 1.32%.

Furthermore, the bureau mentioned that estimated customers during the quarter were 5.83 million, reflecting a decrease of 3.34% from 6.03 million in Q3 2023. On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers decreased by 1.73% in Q4 2023 from 5.93 million in Q4 2022.

The NBS clarified that revenue collected by the distribution company (DisCos) during the period was N294.95 billion, which was more than N260.16 billion in Q3 2023. On a year-on-year basis, revenue generated in the reference period increased by 26.96% from N232.32 billion recorded in Q4 2022.

"Electricity supply was 6,432. (Gwh) in Q4 2023 from 5,732 (Gwh) in the previous quarter," NBS said. "However, on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply increased by 14.64% compared to 5,611 (Gwh) reported in Q4 2022."

Nigeria experienced a nationwide blackout last week due to the collapse of the electricity grid managed from Osogbo, Osun State, around 4:32 p.m. According to a source from one of the distribution companies (DisCos), most DisCos across the country were affected, with their supply feeders down.

This is not the first time when Nigeria was pushed into darkness. Last year, the grid collapsed three times -- Sept. 14, Sept. 19 and Dec. 11. Even last month, Nigeria's electricity grid collapsed in several cities and was restored later on the same day.

The federal government privatized all generation and 11 distribution companies in November 2013. Since the privatization, the grid has collapsed over 140 times.