- Over 40% of industries in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Onitsha exited the national grid due to unreliable supply.
- Most industries lack energy policies and awareness of ISO 50001, prompting ECN and UNIDO to advocate for stronger efficiency measures.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), revealed that more than 40 per cent of industries in selected Nigerian states have exited the national grid due to unreliable electricity supply.
Okon Ekpenyong, ECN’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Consultant, presented the findings during a One-Day National Sensitisation Workshop on Industrial Energy Efficiency and Best Practices in Nigeria. The survey, conducted in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Onitsha, highlighted a 300 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, from 69.75 naira per unit in 2023 to 209.5 naira in 2024.
Ekpenyong noted that many industries rely heavily on diesel and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), with approximately 76 per cent operating on estimated electricity billing. The survey also revealed widespread unawareness of ISO 50001 Energy Management Standards, with 90 per cent lacking formal energy policies and over 45 per cent unaware of simple energy-saving measures. He cited policy inconsistencies, limited knowledge of Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) benefits, and inadequate industrial databases as key challenges.
Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, ECN Director General, explained that the workshop formed part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production,” implemented by UNIDO. Abdullahi stressed that adopting the best practices of IEE and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) could reduce energy waste, lower production costs, and decrease the nation’s energy intensity.
Dr. Reuben Bamidele, UNIDO National Programme Officer, commended ECN’s commitment and noted that many Nigerian industries consider inadequate power supply a significant challenge, with energy costs accounting for approximately 40 per cent of production expenses.
Abdullahi urged policymakers in both public and private sectors to adopt knowledge-based frameworks and energy efficiency practices to improve reliability and minimise energy waste across industrial sectors.