The Federal Government has begun the process of repaying the N4tn debt owed to Power Generation Companies with the launch of a N590bn first-tranche bond issuance.

The initial tranche, part of a wider N4tn NBET Finance Company Plc Bond Programme, is guaranteed by the Federal Government. It comprises N300bn in cash bonds to be issued to the market and N290bn in non-cash bonds to be directly allotted to GenCos on identical terms.

The PUNCH learnt that details contained in the bond term sheet obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the Series 1 bond will be issued between November and December 2025. CardinalStone Partners Limited is serving as the lead issuing house and financial adviser.

According to the term sheet, “Series 1 Tranche A involves N300bn issued to the market for cash, while N290bn under Tranche B is allotted to the GenCos on identical terms. The bond will be issued between November and December, with a seven-year tenor on a fixed-rate coupon, redeemed on an amortising basis and paid semi-annually in arrears.”

The bond issuance marks a major step by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to resolve what experts describe as one of the most crippling financial crises in Nigeria’s power sector. The Series 1 bond carries a seven-year tenor, a fixed coupon rate, and semi-annual interest payments, and will be amortised over its lifespan.

It will be listed on the Nigerian Exchange and the FMDQ Securities Exchange, and will qualify under the Trustee Investment Act, making it eligible for investment by pension fund administrators, banks, asset managers, insurers and high-net-worth investors.

The issuer also retains the discretion to absorb oversubscription of up to N1.23tn, creating room for additional non-cash bond allocations to GenCos if required.

The term sheet added, “Pricing will be based on the yield of the seven-year FGN bond plus a spread, and the issuance will be conducted through a book-build process. The minimum subscription is N5m, representing 5,000 units at N1,000 each, with additional subscriptions in multiples of N1,000.

“Proceeds from the issuance will be used to settle outstanding liabilities owed to GenCos. The instrument is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government, enjoys CBN liquidity status, meets PenCom compliance requirements, qualifies under the Trustee Investment Act, and will be listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.”

It further noted that “oversubscription may be absorbed at the discretion of the issuer up to a maximum of N1,230,000,000,000 approved for Phase 1 of this transaction. The issuer reserves the right to increase the size of the non-cash bonds to be issued to the GenCos under any Series or accommodate additional allotments as may be required.”

Nigeria’s power sector has been weighed down for years by NBET’s inability to settle GenCos’ invoices due to chronic under-remittance by electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

GenCos have repeatedly complained that mounting debts, currently estimated at N4tn and projected to reach N6tn by year-end, have crippled their operations, weakened gas supply contracts, and forced several power plants to run far below capacity.

This liquidity shortfall has contributed significantly to recurrent grid collapses, poor generation output, and unstable electricity supply nationwide. The bond is fully guaranteed by the Federal Government, enjoys Central Bank liquidity status, and meets PenCom requirements for pension fund investments.

Repayment will be funded primarily through the national budget, with NBET’s recoveries from DisCos serving as a secondary source. CardinalStone Partners Limited, the lead issuing house and financial adviser for the forthcoming Federal Government-backed Electricity Bond, has invited institutional investors to an investor forum ahead of the planned.

In a mail notice to investors, the firm said the seven-year bond, with a coupon range of 16.25 per cent to 16.75 per cent, is designed to support ongoing electricity market reforms, with proceeds directed toward strengthening the power sector.

The instrument carries a full sovereign guarantee and will be listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ Securities Exchange.

The mail read, “Dear Valued Investor, Trust this email finds you well. In Furtherance of the upcoming FGN-backed Electricity Bond, which is scheduled to open soon, with a tenor of 7 years and a coupon range of 16.25 per cent–16.75 per cent. The bond programme is structured to deliver direct impact to the power sector, with proceeds applied towards strengthening electricity market reforms.

“It also carries a full sovereign guarantee, providing comfort comparable to traditional FGN bonds. The bond notes will be listed on both the NGX and FMDQ and will benefit from the PenCom waiver. While recognition by the CBN for repo and collateral purposes is yet to be obtained, feedback on this will be available shortly.”

The firm added that the bond would also benefit from the National Pension Commission waiver, although approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria for repo and collateral eligibility was still being processed.

CardinalStone noted that the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Committee, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, would lead the engagement with investors at a virtual forum scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

The session is expected to bring together banks, pension fund administrators, asset managers, insurance firms, and other major stakeholders to provide clarity on power sector reforms and encourage market participation in the N1.23tn bond issuance under the Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme.

Registration for the event, which will be held via Zoom, is compulsory, the notice added.

“Based on the above,  the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Committee, under the distinguished leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, in collaboration with our firm we are pleased to invite you to the Investor Forum for the N1.23tn Power Sector Bond Issuance (“the Issue”) under the Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme (“the Programme”).

“The forum will convene key institutional investors in the Nigerian Capital Market, including Banks, Pension Fund Administrators, Asset Managers, Insurance Companies, and other power sector stakeholders.

“Our goal is to provide clarity on ongoing power sector reforms, outline the planned bond issuance, and foster strong market participation. You are invited to join this engagement as a critical stakeholder in shaping the future of the Power sector in Nigeria,” the notice concluded.

An official familiar with the development, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, said the power generation companies had been invited to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, likely to discuss details of the planned electricity bond. The source added that the bond issuance had so far raised “more questions than answers” among sector stakeholders.

“Gencos have been invited for a meeting tomorrow. The meeting will most likely be to discuss the details of the bond. The bond issuance actually raises more questions than answers,” the official said.