Nigeria’s electricity supply crisis deepened on Tuesday, with national power generation falling to just 2,692 megawatts (MW) at 10 a.m. local time. The shortfall left households, businesses and public institutions across Lagos, Abuja and other major commercial centres grappling with increasingly unreliable grid power.
Data released by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that a string of generating plants were producing no electricity at all. The facilities reporting zero output included:
- Afam VI
- Alaoji
- Gbarain
- Geregu NIPP
- Ibom Power
- Ihovbor NIPP
- Kashimbila
- Olorunsogo
- Omoku
- Rivers IPP
- Sapele
- Taopex
- Trans‑Afam Power
- Sapele NIPP
The reduced generation has forced many households to rely on petrol and diesel generators to power basic appliances, preserve food and meet other domestic needs. Small enterprises such as barbershops, restaurants, cold‑room operators and welding workshops are also bearing the brunt, with owners reporting higher fuel expenses and the dilemma of either passing costs onto customers or cutting operating hours.
Manufacturers and larger businesses that depend heavily on steady electricity face rising production costs and diminished competitiveness as the unreliable grid undermines productivity. The situation highlights long‑standing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, including inadequate generation capacity, gas‑supply constraints and operational difficulties at key plants.
“Planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and constraints in gas supply to some thermal power stations have reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid,” Power Minister Joseph Tegbe told reporters. “Grid operators have therefore implemented load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall. Sabotage of key transmission lines has also restricted the use of alternative routes to supply some locations, especially Lagos. My team and I are working to return the affected generating units to service in phases, with the first units coming back online within the next 48 to 72 hours. We are also working with operators to improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to the damaged infrastructure.”
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
