RMAFC Moves to Resolve NBET’s Debt to NDPHC
By Patience Ikpeme
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is actively working to resolve the financial dispute between the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
A delegation from the RMAFC’s Investment Committee, led by Federal Commissioner Hon. Ekene Enefe, visited the NBET headquarters in Abuja to address the issue.
Enefe said the purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of NBET’s operations and challenges. He disclosed that the committee’s visit was prompted by a recent meeting with the NDPHC, where NBET’s indebtedness was brought up, leading the RMAFC to directly engage NBET to inquire about its debt recovery efforts.
The visit is in line with the Commission’s constitutional mandate under the RMAFC Act of 2025, Section 6 (2), which empowers it to obtain relevant information from government agencies and private sector operators.
“Since government intervention in the power sector is a continuous process, RMAFC has initiated activities to review the revenue allocation formula with a view to ensuring adequate funding of critical federal government projects,” Hon. Enefe stated.
In his response, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NBET, Mr. Johnson Akinnawo, described his agency as a “special trader” in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
He explained that NBET’s role is to act as a bulk purchaser and reseller of electricity, managing contracts under power purchase agreements. According to him, the agency serves as a bridge between power generation companies (GenCos) and distribution companies (DisCos), which ensures stability and reliability in electricity supply.
Akinnawo added that NBET’s activities are designed to incentivize private sector investment in the power sector.
On the specific issue of indebtedness to NDPHC, Mr. Akinnawo said that while NBET facilitates debt recovery, the real-time monitoring of income and the sanctioning of defaulting organizations fall under the responsibilities of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He assured the RMAFC committee that NBET would provide a comprehensive list of indebted GenCos to aid the Commission’s work.
