Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community risk being disconnected from electricity supply over unpaid obligations totalling N5.46 billion, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has disclosed.

NERC said the company and its host community made no payment towards energy invoices and service charges issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator in 2025.

According to the commission’s 2025 Annual Report, Ajaokuta received an energy invoice of N4.96 billion from NBET but made no payment.

It also failed to settle a N500 million service charge invoice issued by the Market Operator, bringing the total outstanding obligation to N5.46 billion.

NERC said the continued non-payment had become a matter of concern and that it had escalated the issue to relevant Federal Government ministries for intervention.

The commission warned that failure to settle the debt could result in the Ajaokuta complex being disconnected by its electricity service providers on grounds of gross indebtedness.

The disclosure comes amid renewed Federal Government efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, which has remained largely inactive decades after construction began.

The electricity debt highlights the financial challenges facing the complex, as well as broader concerns over unpaid electricity bills among government-linked institutions and other large power consumers.

NERC said it would continue to monitor payment obligations within the electricity market, stressing the need for participants to meet their financial commitments to ensure the sustainability of the sector.