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The Nigerian Electricity Supply Corporation (Nigeria) Limited, better known as NESCO, is one of Nigeria’s longest-serving power companies. Set up in the 20th century, NESCO helped light up northern and central Nigeria, with Plateau State as its main base.
The firm still plays a major role in the country’s energy story, delivering power from a chain of hydro plants.
In this piece, we will look at NESCOS history, the services it offers, its power output, the hurdles it faces, and what the future may hold in Nigeria’s fast-changing power scene.
A Brief History and Background of NESCO
Key historical milestones:
- 1929: NESCO was established.
- 1943: Commissioning of its first major hydroelectric plant.
- 1960s – 1980s: Peak operational years supplying Plateau and parts of Benue State.
Nigeria Electricity Supply Corporation (NESCO) first switched on the lights in Nigeria back in 1929, and since then it has built and managed its own system for generating, transmitting, and distributing power. Today this privately owned utility delivers around 175 gigawatt-hours of energy each year from a mix of hydro and thermal plants.
Its service stretch covers more than 14,000 square kilometers in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, reaching mines, factories, and homes alike.
NESCO also sells bulk power to companies and to state-backed rural grids that sit outside the national network.
The firm runs seven hydro plants along Plateau Rivers, together producing roughly 145 gigawatt-hours each year while maintaining large year-round reservoirs to keep the turbines turning.
NESCO Motto
- Reliable Power you can Trust.
NESCO Mision
- To provide reliable and clean electrical power that surpasses Customer Expectation.
NESCO Vision
- To be recognized as a Cutting-Edge Power Solution Provider profitable to all Stakeholders.
Services Offered by NESCO
Even though NESCO is mainly a regional firm, it packs a broad service menu inside its footprint:
1. Electricity Generation
NESCO runs small hydro plants that churn out clean, renewable power. Because the plants sit on rivers with steady flow, their output stays reliable.
2. Electricity Distribution
Most of Nigeria’s power is handled by the eleven big DisCos, yet NESCO still feeds electricity straight to some rural and semi-urban Plateau clients.
3. Rural Electrification
For decades NESCO has championed rural-electrification projects, easing electric access into regions the national firms rarely visit.
Hydropower Generation by NESCO
The company now operates six stations that together deliver roughly 25 megawatts (MW). While that output seems tiny beside giants such as Kainji Dam, NESCOS plants provide steady local power exactly when the national grid drops.
Key facilities include:
– NESCO I-IV Power Stations
– Kurra Falls Hydropower Plant
– Kwall and Kura Hydropower Facilities
These sites feed both the public grid and off-grid customers.
Challenges Facing NESCO
Like many older utilities in Nigeria, NESCO still juggles a few tough day-to-day and big-picture headaches:
1. Regulatory Constraints
NERC, the country’s electricity regulator, writes the rules, and fresh policies can box NESCO into limited zones or narrow growth paths.
2. Aging Infrastructure
A big chunk of NESCOS plants run on vintage tech; upgrades would eat less fuel and boost output, but the resources to modernize are limited..
3. Competition with National Grid
Since the national grid stretched out and DisCos took center stage, NESCOS ‘old strongholds now serve fewer and fewer direct customers.
4. Limited Expansion Capital
As a smaller player, chasing funds for new lines, poles, or bigger power houses often turns into a long, frustrating sprint.
Future Outlook for NESCO
Nigeria’s surge in off-grid solar and mini-grid plans could hand NESCO new opportunities, mainly through:
Investment in Mini-Grids and Off-Grid Systems
By backing small, local setups, the firm can plug rural gaps that the national network still ignores.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for Expansion
Joint ventures with crafty investors may lift the financing burden and speed up needed rollout.
Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Existing Plants
Fixing the old fleet will cut costs, stretch fuel, and show customers where reliability and green power meet.
Collaboration with Rural Electrification Agency (REA)
Team-ups with the REA place NESCO at the front of the next big electrification wave.
If the country keeps moving toward a mixed grid and clean self-generation, NESCO could revive its status as a key player in Nigeria’s green power story.
Contact NESCO
Company Address
10 Barakin Ladi Road, Bukuru, Plateau State, Nigeria
info@nesconigeria.com, support@Nesconigeria.com
Phone Numbers
Bukuru fault reporting
08124176636, 07039232009
Barkin ladi
08088420560, 08065823120
Accounts section
07033688347
Control Foreman
08036345323
Website:
FAQs About NESCO Nigeria
1. What does NESCO stand for?
NESCO is an abbreviation for Nigerian Electricity Supply Corporation (Nigeria) Limited.
2. Where is NESCO based?
NESCO mainly works in Plateau State, with its center around Jos and in nearby towns.
3. Is NESCO part of the national grid?
Although NESCO can produce power on its own, it connects to the national grid to share electricity and follows some rules set by regulators.
4. What type of power does NESCO generate?
Most of NESCOS power comes from hydro plants, making it clean and renewable.
5. Can private consumers get electricity directly from NESCO?
Yes, some factories, shops, and homes in NESCOS area-specially those without DisCo service-get their electricity straight from the company.
Conclusion
Nigerian Electricity Supply Corporation (Nigeria) Limited, commonly called NESCO, may not grab front-page news like bigger utilities, yet its long-standing hydro focus and local service record matter. As Nigeria seeks greener power and wider coverage, smaller outfits like NESCO will fill urgent supply holes, mainly in outlying villages.
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