Power outages persist in several Nigerian states
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Trust
Power cuts persist in Lagos, Abuja and two other Nigerian states despite Electricity Minister Olasunkanmi Tegbe’s promise to improve supply within 48 to 72 hours. NNPC and grid operator NISO blame each other over low generation levels, reports Daily Trust.
The power outage continues in Lagos, Abuja and two other Nigerian states despite Energy Minister Olasunkanmi Tegbe’s commitment to gradually improve supply within 48 to 72 hours. Consumers are notably facing higher temperatures and the high cost of fuel used for backup power solutions, reports Daily Trust.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which oversees the operation of Nigeria’s electricity grid, attributed the fall in generation to limited gas availability for thermal power plants and low water levels supplying hydroelectric plants. Minister Olasunkanmi Tegbe also cited scheduled maintenance at Egbin power plant, which supplies about 16% of grid electricity, as well as the sabotage of transmission lines, according to Daily Trust.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), through its head of corporate communications, Andy Odeh, disputes the explanation based on gas supply constraints. He said the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited gas network remains available to supply power plants and that operational data show no constraint related to gas transportation. Gas production has reportedly increased by about 10% since the start of 2026, according to him.
The situation has led some electricity distribution companies to ration supply to their customers, reports Daily Trust. The development comes after the Energy Minister’s commitment on 7 November to improve electricity supply within 72 hours, and NNPC’s denial on the same day that its gas supply was responsible for the reduction in electricity electricity supply expected to improve within 72 hours and NNPC denies its gas supply is reducing electricity in Nigeria.
