On Sunday, 8 November 2026, Nigeria’s national grid recorded a generation level of just 2,945 megawatts (MW) at 11 a.m., while twelve power‑generation plants reported zero output, deepening a power crisis that has already forced households and businesses in Lagos, Abuja and other regions into prolonged blackouts.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) portal show that the idle facilities include Geregu NIPP, Alaoji NIPP, GPAL, Ihovbor NIPP, Kainji, MEPP, Okpai, Rivers IPP, Sapele, Shiroro, Taopex and Trans Afam Power. In contrast, about sixteen other stations together supplied a combined 2,945.62 MW to the grid at the same time.
The reduced supply has pushed many consumers to rely on costly alternatives such as petrol‑ and diesel‑run generators to preserve food, run small workshops, operate cold‑rooms, or keep lights on. Small enterprises, manufacturers, restaurants and barbershops report higher operating expenses, prompting some to raise prices, cut opening hours or risk losing profitability.
NISO attributed the generation drop to two main factors: inadequate gas deliveries to thermal power stations and lower water inflows that limited output from hydroelectric plants. The shortfall forced grid operators to impose load‑shedding and allocate less power to distribution companies.
“The gas transportation network operated by our subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited, is not experiencing any constraints that could explain the decline in electricity generation,” said Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). “Gas production volumes have increased by approximately 10 percent year‑to‑date in 2026.”
NNPC qualified its statement by noting that the mere availability of pipelines does not guarantee that sufficient gas reaches individual power plants. The oil company called for a comprehensive assessment of gas supply arrangements, actual deliveries, plant readiness, maintenance schedules and gas offtake to pinpoint the precise causes of the shortfall.
These conflicting accounts expose a critical information gap in Nigeria’s gas‑to‑power chain, underscoring longstanding challenges of accountability and transparency in a sector that must meet the energy needs of Africa’s most populous nation.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
