The Nigerian government says it plans to sell some electricity-generation companies in the country, six months after it announced the restructuring of power distribution companies and privatisation of five power projects.
The government said the sale will take place in the first quarter of 2023 and the proceeds will be used to fund the 2023 budget, Bloomberg reports.
President Muhammadu Buhari presented a record budget of N20.5 trillion in October for next year with N10.78 trillion not backed by revenue, leaving a budget deficit that is 4.8 per cent of the GDP.
The generating companies (Gencos) for sale are Geregu power plant, a 562-megawatt facility in Calabar, Cross River State, and the Olorunsogo power plant.
Alex Okoh, director-general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, told Bloomberg on Thursday that bids for the companies will be opened this month and will close at the end of March.
The power plants are part of the power projects that were shortlisted for privatisation in July.
Since the government handed over authority in 2013, the privately owned businesses have had difficulty supplying electricity.
Nigeria’s power system has mostly remained dysfunctional, producing and distributing an average of 4,000 megawatts to around 200 million people.