FG begins N4tn debt settlement, captures five GenCos

The Federal Government has taken steps towards resolving Nigeria’s estimated N4tn power sector debt burden as five power generation companies signed settlement agreements under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, following the issuance of a N501bn bond.

The bond, which reportedly recorded 100 per cent subscription, was issued in Lagos on Tuesday, attracting interest from pension funds, banks, asset managers, and other institutional investors, signalling renewed confidence in the government’s electricity market reforms and its approach to resolving legacy sector challenges.

The programme, driven by President Bola Tinubu, is designed to address payment arrears owed to power generation companies for electricity supplied over the past decade. The PUNCH reports that the legacy debts had constrained liquidity, weakened balance sheets, and discouraged investment across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Johnson Akinnawo, described the programme as a historic and defining moment for Nigeria’s power sector.

“This historic programme received the resolute approval of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council. Mr President’s decisive endorsement is not just a procedural step; it is the bedrock of this ambition. It signals the highest level of commitment to the total revitalisation of our nation’s power sector,” Akinnawo said.

He added that the development would strengthen market discipline while enabling growth across generations and other segments of the electricity value chain.

Akinnawo stressed the broader significance of reliable electricity for national development, saying, “Reliable electricity is not just an enabler of economic activity. It is the backbone of national development, social advancement, and global competitiveness.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the bond issuance marked a decisive reset of the electricity market, combining debt resolution with broader financial and structural reforms aimed at restoring confidence and long-term financial sustainability to the sector.

She explained that the inaugural Series 1 Power Sector Bond issuance, executed by NBET Finance Company Plc, closed at N501bn, comprising N300bn raised from the capital market and N201bn allotted in bonds to participating power generation companies.

Verheijen said under the programme, verified receivables for electricity supplied between February 2015 and March 2025 were being settled through negotiated agreements with power generation companies.

She disclosed that five generation companies operating 14 power plants nationwide—First Independent Power Limited, Geregu Power Plc, Ibom Power Company Limited, Mabon Limited, and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited—have executed settlement agreements with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

According to her, the total negotiated settlement value for the five companies stands at N827.16bn and will be paid in four phased instalments.

Proceeds from the Series 1 bond issuance will fund the first and second instalment payments, estimated at N421.42bn, representing about 50 per cent of the total settlement amount, with payments for the initial phase to be made through a combination of cash and notes.

Industry operators said clearing the historic arrears is expected to improve liquidity for power generation companies, strengthen their ability to meet operating and debt obligations, and unlock new investments across the electricity value chain.

The Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, said the resolution of legacy debts would restore confidence and enable power producers to reinvest.

“Capital formation can only come when there is confidence, when you can truly see a line of sight in recovering investments previously made. Because we were owed so much, it was a bit of a problem for us to put in more money. But last year we took the bull by the horns, based on President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to resolving the legacy issues, and I can say that once this process is over, construction will commence immediately on the second phase of our Egbin Power Plant. On behalf of the generation companies, I’d like to thank the President for this resolution,” Adesina said.

Verheijen added that, when fully implemented, the programme is expected to impact 4,483.60 megawatt-hours per hour of electricity generation capacity and finalise settlement of payments for about 290,644.84 gigawatt-hours of electricity billed since February 2015.

She said the initiative would provide a strong foundation for new investments in capacity enhancement and expansion by power generation companies serving over 12.03 million active registered electricity customers nationwide, while reinforcing fiscal discipline through validated claims, negotiated settlements, and transparent capital market financing.

The Special Adviser said the Federal Government acknowledged the support of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, as well as members of the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Committee.

She also acknowledged the roles played by key government institutions, including the Debt Management Office, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Pensions Commission, and the Nigerian Revenue Service, in facilitating the bond issuance.

CardinalStone Partners Limited acted as lead financial adviser and lead issuing house on the transaction, leading a consortium of professional parties, while the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc served as transaction sponsor, with the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy leading settlement negotiations and engagements with the generation companies.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, represented by the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, described the signing as more than a financing transaction, calling it a “critical turning point” for Nigeria’s power sector.

“I am pleased to be here today to witness and formally commemorate the signing of the N501.02bn Series 1 Bonds under the N4tn Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme. This ceremony represents far more than a financing transaction. It marks a critical turning point in our collective efforts to address long-standing structural challenges in Nigeria’s power sector and to lay a stronger foundation for its long-term sustainability,” he said.

Edun added that the bond issuance signals the Federal Government’s commitment to honouring its obligations, deploying innovative financial solutions to resolve systemic challenges, and restoring liquidity, confidence, and discipline across the electricity market.

He emphasised that settling legacy debts in a structured manner would enable GenCos to stabilise operations, improve maintenance, and attract new investment—critical to improving power supply nationwide.(Punch)