The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has intensified its drive to supply affordable and reliable electricity directly to high-energy-consuming industries through its Eligible Customer Programme.
The initiative, which allows large industrial users to buy electricity straight from power generation companies, aims to boost productivity, address liquidity challenges in the sector, and enhance Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDPHC said the Eligible Customer Programme—originally launched in 2017 and updated in 2024—offers an opportunity for qualified industrial and commercial customers to enjoy consistent and cost-effective electricity supply.
According to the company, the programme enables participants to access between 6MW and 20MW of power once they secure approval through a Power Purchase Agreement and are granted eligibility status by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Empowering Industries Through the Eligible Customer Programme
NDPHC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, described the Eligible Customer Programme as a transformative pathway designed to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and resolve key inefficiencies in the national power market.
“The eligible customer framework is not just a commercial initiative—it’s a national economic strategy,” Adighije said.
“By supplying power directly from our plants to businesses, we are bridging the reliability gap that has long hampered Nigeria’s industrial growth.
Stable electricity drives higher productivity, reduces operational costs, and helps industries compete globally.”
She highlighted Phoenix Steel Mills as a success story under the scheme, saying the firm’s improved access to steady power had led to significant savings and productivity gains.
This, she added, underscores how direct power purchase can enhance supply stability and foster sustainable industrial growth.
With over 2,000MW of idle capacity, NDPHC is leveraging the Eligible Customer Programme to sell directly to bulk consumers.
The company said this approach will not only improve liquidity but also make better use of its generation assets across the country.
Addressing Nigeria’s Power Sector Challenges
Adighije further explained that NDPHC is exploring bilateral and embedded power solutions to bypass the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised electricity grid.
According to her, persistent transmission bottlenecks and revenue shortfalls have made it unsustainable for power firms to rely solely on the centralised market structure.
“To overcome these challenges, we are diversifying power delivery methods,” she said.
“Through bilateral agreements, NDPHC can deliver power directly to eligible customers at cost-reflective tariffs, ensuring both commercial viability and operational efficiency.”
She emphasised that the company has already begun identifying and engaging large, creditworthy industrial customers who qualify under NERC’s eligible customer framework.
Once approved, such customers will be able to negotiate flexible tariffs and enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply outside the traditional distribution network.
“This approach enhances our revenue base and shields us from the liquidity issues that have plagued the centralised market,” she noted.
“It is a commercially smart and sustainable model that guarantees steady income for power producers and reliable energy for manufacturers.”
Boosting Industrial Growth and Energy Security
The NDPHC boss reaffirmed the company’s commitment to deepening its partnership with industrial clusters nationwide.
She said several manufacturing zones across the country have expressed interest in joining the Eligible Customer Programme, recognising it as a credible route to achieving energy independence and operational stability.
She added that the programme is also aligned with the Federal Government’s vision to stimulate industrial growth, attract foreign investment, and promote job creation through improved power access.
“Our goal is to empower Nigerian industries to operate optimally without relying on self-generation or expensive diesel options,” Adighije said.
“This model allows industries to channel resources into expansion and innovation rather than power generation.”
The company’s direct power sales initiative also aligns with the National Electricity Act 2023, which supports decentralised power generation and flexible commercial arrangements that ensure cost recovery for producers while protecting consumer interests.
A Strategic Shift for Nigeria’s Power Market
Analysts have lauded NDPHC’s move as a significant reform that could reshape Nigeria’s power landscape.
By prioritising bilateral sales under the Eligible Customer Programme, the company is introducing competition and efficiency into the system while fostering financial sustainability for generation companies.
Experts say this approach can also help reduce the burden on the national grid, as industries purchasing directly from NDPHC will draw less from the central network.
This will improve grid stability and free up capacity for smaller users.
Industry observers have urged other generation companies to emulate NDPHC’s model, describing it as a win-win for both producers and industrial consumers.
With its Eligible Customer Programme, NDPHC is charting a new course for Nigeria’s power sector—one focused on reliability, financial stability, and industrial empowerment.
As more firms sign up to purchase power directly, the initiative could serve as a catalyst for nationwide economic transformation, proving that steady electricity is indeed the lifeblood of industrial growth.
