General
Policy Reforms, Market Efficiency Can Transform Nigeria’s Power Sector—Omoboriowo
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Genesis Energy Group, Mr Akinwole Omoboriowo, has highlighted the importance of policy reforms, market efficiency, and collaboration in driving Nigeria’s power sector transformation.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Energy Leadership Summit organised in Lagos recently by Informa Markets, he disclosed that for Nigeria, it has already come up with good policies that have attracted more investments into the sector.
“For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has been characterised by immense potential but persistent challenges.
“With the introduction of the Electricity Act 2023, we now have a clear and enduring framework that defines how the sector will grow and operate,” he said at the event themed Powering Nigeria through Investment, Innovation and Partnership.
Speaking further in his keynote address titled Reimagining Investment in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, the energy expert informed the audience that, “For the first time, sub-national governments can establish their own electricity markets, tailoring solutions to their unique economic needs.”
“The Act also gives legal recognition to off-grid and mini-grid projects, transforming them from pilot schemes into viable, bankable investment opportunities.
“This clarity is restoring investor confidence and creating space for innovation and competition across the value chain. These are the foundations of NESI 2.0 — a new, decentralised energy system built on policy certainty, private capital, and shared ambition,” he remarked at the programme, which had policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders in attendance.
Stakeholders gathered for the summit to discuss pathways for sustainable electricity supply in the country.
“At Genesis Energy, we are already translating these reforms into tangible results through partnerships that demonstrate what is possible when policy meets execution. Earlier this year, we signed a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding with the Katsina State Government to deploy large-scale solar photovoltaic and battery storage systems across the state.
“The first phase of this project powers the Katsina State General Hospital entirely through solar and battery systems, while the state government complex now operates on a hybridised model that delivers uninterrupted electricity. This initiative has already generated measurable outcomes — including an annual cost saving of over ₦3 billion and significant improvements in service reliability.
“Beyond cost savings, it shows how decentralised, state-led energy projects can strengthen local economies, create jobs, and enhance social infrastructure.
“These are not isolated interventions but signals of a maturing market — one where private capital and public policy are working in true alignment to power Nigeria’s growth,” Mr Omoboriowo noted.
In his remarks, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, further highlighted the role of public-private sector partnership in advancing the energy sector.
“The responsibility of providing stable electricity can never be left in the hands of the federal government alone. Given the level of investment required in this sector, we need private infusion, both local and foreign.
“We must engage local and foreign investors at the state level to establish generation, transmission, distribution, and off-grid solutions. This is especially critical for rural, unserved, and semi-urban communities.
“States now have the autonomy to develop their own power projects, including small hydro, solar, wind, or other generation options, and with partnerships with companies such as Genesis Energy, we can mobilize the expertise and technology, to make these projects successful. By doing this, we can guarantee energy security and unlock opportunities for local economic growth,” the Minister stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it initiated a move to freeze the bank account of the Osun State government.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Governor of Osun State, Mr Ademola Adeleke, claimed that the anti-money laundering agency asked one of its bankers, First Bank, not to release funds to the state government.
According to the Governor, this was part of the strategies to frustrate his administration ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.
Reacting to the issue on Wednesday night, the EFCC, in a statement, said it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 over an alleged “fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) account to the tune of N11.0 billion.
The organisation noted that some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant General of the State, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC.
“These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.
“The commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” parts of the statement said.
In the disclosure, the agency noted that its preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources, stressing that it cannot “watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.”
“While the commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state. It will be uncharitable for the commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions,” it pointed out.
The EFCC disclosed that it is “keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the commission to ensure accountability and probity. The commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.”
The organisation urged the public “to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonisation of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the commission.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has launched a mobile application designed to monitor fuel consumption patterns in real time across retail outlets nationwide.
The NMDPRA, established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. The deployment of the mobile application aligns with the authority’s broader efforts to leverage technology to improve regulatory compliance and strengthen accountability.
The pilot phase of the project began on August 1 in Abuja and its six Area Councils, the authority said in a statement published on X.
As part of the rollout, the Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, led a team alongside officials from the Abuja Regional Office to assess the readiness and operational performance of the digital platform at participating retail outlets.
According to the NMDPRA, the application captures inventory and compliance data in real time, enabling regulators to monitor fuel distribution more effectively while improving operational efficiency across the sector.
The authority said the platform would generate reliable, data-driven insights to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen national energy security planning and enhance transparency in the downstream petroleum industry.
It added that the initiative is expected to provide significant value to government, investors, operators and other stakeholders by improving access to accurate fuel consumption and compliance data.
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has undergone significant changes since the deregulation of the petrol market and the removal of fuel subsidies, with regulators placing greater emphasis on data-driven supervision to ensure product availability, prevent supply disruptions and discourage sharp regional disparities in distribution.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No doubt, moving money among African markets remains a slow, fragmented process that relies on multiple intermediaries and prolonged settlement cycles.
To solve this issue and drive the development of stablecoin-enabled payment services for businesses across the continent, Onafriq has joined forces with a leading stablecoin infrastructure provider, Privy.
The collaboration will enable Onafriq to create and manage embedded digital asset solutions for its partners and, in time, institutional clients where regulation allows. The initial phase focuses on cross-chain stablecoin transfers and treasury and settlement workflows, creating the foundation for future cross-border payment and liquidity solutions.
Integrating Privy’s secure infrastructure enables Onafriq to build the capabilities required to support a new generation of efficient digital payment services for banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators.
This partnership is a key component of Onafriq’s broader strategy to modernise pan-African payment infrastructure, enabling secure multi-modal wallets and more efficient movement of value across the continent.
The outcome will support a range of future institutional use cases, including stablecoin-enabled settlement, treasury management and liquidity services, as it reflects Onafriq’s commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation agenda by investing in technologies that make financial services more efficient, connected and accessible.
It was gathered that Onafriq selected Privy for its enterprise-grade infrastructure to enable the seamless integration of digital asset wallet capabilities into its products, subject to regulatory approval, and deliver a simple user experience while abstracting the complexity of blockchain technology.
“At Onafriq, we keep investing in technology that makes payments faster and more accessible. Privy gives us a building block for faster settlement and better liquidity management. As demand for digital asset services grows, our goal is to ensure Africa’s payment ecosystem benefits securely and in line with regulatory frameworks,” the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq,” Mr Luke Kyohere, said.
The chief executive of Privy, Mr Henri Stern, said, “Stablecoins will play an increasingly important role in the future of global payments, but real-world adoption depends on infrastructure that is secure, scalable and simple to implement. Working with Onafriq allows us to help build that foundation across Africa and beyond.”
