New data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reveals that a staggering 254,404 complaints were filed against electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the first three months of 2025.
The report, covering the period from January to March, paints a vivid picture of a sector grappling with fundamental service delivery issues, even as it raked in over half a trillion naira in revenue.
The Numbers Tell the Story: A National Breakdown
While the total number of complaints represents a slight 7.72% decrease from the final quarter of 2024, the data shows that for every 100 complaints made, nearly 43 were related to faulty meters. Billing errors followed as the second-largest source of customer frustration, accounting for over 12% of all grievances lodged.
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Total Complaints (Q1 2025): 254,404
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Metering Complaints: 108,918 (42.84%)
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Billing Complaints: 31,215 (12.27%)
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Service Interruption Complaints: 19,486 (7.66%)
The financial figures from the same period stand in stark contrast to the service failures. Consumers paid N553.63 billion to DisCos in the first quarter. Tellingly, NERC's data also shows that a significant N32.2 billion had to be refunded to customers for overbilling during these three months, highlighting the scale of the billing inaccuracies plaguing the system.
A Tale of Two Regions: The Geographic Divide
The national average, however, masks deep regional disparities in service quality. The Port Harcourt DisCo, serving Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and parts of Akwa Ibom, was the subject of 57,843 complaints. This means that nearly one out of every four electricity complaints filed in Nigeria during this period originated from this single distribution zone.
At the other end of the spectrum, Yola DisCo recorded just 2,495 complaints, representing less than 1% of the national total.
The data also revealed dramatic shifts in performance for some distributors. While Abuja DisCo managed a remarkable 74.02% reduction in complaints compared to the previous quarter, Kano DisCo saw its customer grievances skyrocket by 86.12%, indicating a severe and rapid deterioration of service in its franchise area.
This data-driven look into the first quarter of 2025 underscores a persistent challenge for Nigerian electricity consumers. While a marginal national improvement in complaint resolution is noted, the sheer volume of issues—particularly with metering and billing—coupled with the vast regional performance gaps, indicates that fundamental problems remain deeply entrenched in the nation's power sector.
