News
NBET to deploy automated energy trading platform for power sector

The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) says it plans to deploy an automated energy trading platform/exchange to promote bilateral trading between Independent Power Plants (IPPS) and commercial/industrial customers in 2023.
The Managing Director of NBET, Mr Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, disclosed this in a document titled, ‘Actualising Enhanced Electricity Supply and Commercial/Industrial Decarbonisation in Nigeria,’ made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Ewelukwa said that the platform would have multiple energy brokers playing key roles in linking energy suppliers and customers registered.
According to him, the IPPS wishing to sell power can register on the platform and immediately have access to a comprehensive database of commercial/industrial customers across the country, and their energy requirements.
He listed those that would be involved in the platform to include: Commercial and industrial customers and industrial clusters; generation plants; transmission and distribution networks.
Others are Gas pipeline networks; energy locations, including solar irradiation, wind and mini-hydro potentials.
“The platform will efficiently link sufficient numbers of buyers and sellers thus facilitating price discovery.
“With price discovery, energy buyers and sellers have the assurance that they are purchasing these commodities at fair prices in a reliable marketplace.
“It will also ultimately enhance the overall visibility of tariffs, capacity availability, costs and prices along the energy value chain, which will aid buyers and sellers in undertaking transactions,” he said.
Ewelukwa said that the platform would facilitate private investments in the transmission/distribution network in order to fully bridge the infrastructure gap between electricity demand and supply.
According to him, it will also reduce the technical, commercial and collection losses in the system.
He said that the platform would also promote business partnerships involving customers, IPPs, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Distribution Companies.
Ewelukwa also said that a comprehensive interactive map would be developed by NBET, which will show the geo-locations of the facilities within Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub-region.
He said that the interactive map would facilitate transaction structuring by willing buyers and sellers, and network investment coordination.
It would also guide investment decision-making, and facilitate greater policy planning and efficient resource planning.
Ewelukwa said that the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), as well as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority were being engaged by NBET.
“The Federal Ministries of Power; Finance, Budget and National Planning; Industry, Trade and Investment; as well as the media and Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs) were being engaged
“NBET was interfacing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists; and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises,” he said..
The managing director said that the administration of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and vesting contracts by the agency had resulted in electricity payments worth N5 trillion from February 2015 to date.
According to him, the Azura Power Plant in Edo, the first financed power project in Nigeria, heralded an investment of close to 1 billion dollars.
Ewelukwa also said that NBET had executed PPAs with 14 solar Independent Power Projects (IPPs) for one gigawatt (1GW) of electricity.
He said that acting as the anchor for the Federal Government of Nigeria-World Bank Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP), NBET made the World Bank make available $750 million for the Power Sector Recovery Operations (PSRO) loan.
He said that the agency was instrumental to FGN’s budgetary appropriation in addressing tariff shortfalls in the electricity market.
Ewelukwa listed other milestones achieved by NBET including the facilitation of the privatisation of generation companies (GenCos) through PPAs with core investors.
“Others are the 2.5 billion dollar privatisation of GenCos and DisCos (2013). Facilitation of Afam Power Plc and Afam the three Fast Power limited (N105.3 billion; 343.6 million billion
“The successful and transparent management of the N1.3 trillion payment assurance facility that aided a 30 per cent increase in the highest peak generation ever attained.
“From 4500MW (February 2015) to 5,800MW (March 2021), due to capacity recovery by generation companies,” he said.
(NAN)
NBET to deploy automated energy trading platform for power sector
Headlines
NCBN, OISD Seek Strategic Partnership with ASR Africa

NCBN, OISD Seek Strategic Partnership with ASR Africa
By Matthew Eloyi
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN), Mr. Jamilu Yusuf, has led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), Dr. Ubon Udoh, to explore areas of mutual collaboration.
Mr. Yusuf, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Organisation for Innovation and Sustainable Development (OISD), commended ASR Africa for its transformational impact in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, social development, and institutional strengthening across Nigeria and the African continent.
He highlighted NCBN’s commitment to promoting institutions and initiatives that drive sustainable development, noting that a strategic communication partnership with ASR Africa would help amplify the organisation’s achievements and further inspire positive change.
Mr. Yusuf also proposed a collaboration between OISD and ASR Africa in areas including education, digital literacy, and economic empowerment, aligning with both organisations’ shared vision for inclusive growth and capacity building.
In response, Dr. Udoh welcomed the partnership proposals, expressing ASR Africa’s readiness to collaborate with NCBN on strategic communication initiatives. He also affirmed the initiative’s interest in working with OISD on education empowerment programmes.
Dr. Udoh further used the occasion to congratulate the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on his recent election as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), describing the achievement as a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration.
Headlines
Akpabio Hails Okpebholo’s Supreme Court Victory, Calls It Triumph of Democracy

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo on his affirmation as the duly elected governor of Edo State by the Supreme Court, describing the ruling as a “triumph of democracy and the will of the people.”
Akpabio, in a statement personally signed and released on Friday in Abuja, applauded the apex court’s decision, saying it validated the mandate freely given to Okpebholo in the September 2024 gubernatorial election.
“What the apex court in the land has done is to affirm the will and wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State. It shows that the election was transparent, free and fair,” Akpabio stated.
He added that, “The declaration by the Supreme Court in favour of Sen. Okpebholo against Mr Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has proven that elections are won at the ballot and by people who have identified with the grassroots.”
The Senate President said the judgment reaffirms the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
“This judgment has again reaffirmed the fact that democracy is at play and the people of Edo have wholeheartedly embraced the All Progressives Congress (APC) and popularly elected their preferred choice of Senator Okpebholo as their governor,” he said.
According to Akpabio, the ruling not only confirms Okpebholo’s mandate but also “paves the way for him to continue delivering exceptional service to the good people of Edo.”
He praised the governor’s performance in the past seven months, expressing confidence in his capacity to deliver more during his four-year tenure.
“My distinguished brother, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, on behalf of my family and constituents, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I extend my warmest congratulations to you and the wonderful people of Edo on this landmark victory at the Supreme Court.
“I wish you success and I assure you of the Senate’s support and collaboration in ensuring the state’s progress and development.
“Congratulations once again, Gov Okpebholo. I look forward to a robust working relationship with you,” Akpabio added.
In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.
The apex court upheld the earlier rulings of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, both of which declared Okpebholo of the APC as the valid winner of the election.
The court ruled that the appellant failed to provide credible and admissible evidence to support claims of electoral malpractice, including over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
It further held that the PDP candidate failed to call relevant witnesses to back up some of the evidence he tendered, particularly those involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Some of the documents presented, the court noted, were simply “dumped” on the tribunal without demonstrating the alleged irregularities in 432 of the 4,519 polling units across the state.
Education
NELFUND Begins Upkeep Payments to Over 3,600 Students After Bank Detail Update

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commenced the disbursement of upkeep payments to students who successfully updated their bank account details from digital wallets to commercial bank accounts.
This was announced in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Strategic Communications of the Fund, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
Oluwatuyi described the development as a significant breakthrough in addressing earlier disbursement delays.
“Over 3,600 students, who previously registered with digital-only banking platforms, have now successfully received their backlog of upkeep payments after updating their details to conventional commercial bank accounts on the NELFUND portal,” she stated.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of all affected students during this period. Your resilience and cooperation have made this progress possible,” she added.
The NELFUND spokesperson advised students who have yet to update their bank details to raise a support ticket via the official NELFUND portal to request access for the update.
She further urged affected students to report through the IT office of their respective institutions, which would compile and forward all related cases to NELFUND for prompt resolution.
“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that no eligible student is left behind. This resolution process is part of our broader effort to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and student-centered delivery of our support services,” she said.
Oluwatuyi encouraged students to continue engaging only through official NELFUND channels and to assist their peers who may need help navigating the update process.
She also provided contact options for inquiries, stating that the fund can be reached via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or through its official social media handles: X (formerly Twitter) @nelfund; Instagram @nelfund; and Facebook & LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND.
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