Two weeks after the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, assured Nigerians of improved electricity supply, power generation in the country continues to fall short of expectations. Ongoing gas shortages, load rejection by distribution companies, and infrastructure limitations have left many households and businesses without reliable electricity.
Despite slight improvements, supply has largely remained between 3,000 and 4,000 megawatts, far below the levels recorded in 2025. Power distribution companies (DisCos) are struggling to deliver adequate electricity, and some have reportedly rejected portions of available load, worsening the situation.
Joy Ogaji, CEO of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), explained that gas companies have limited supply to thermal plants unless payments are made, and that transmission and distribution capacities constrain how much generated power reaches consumers. Nigeria’s 30 grid-connected power plants have an installed capacity of 15,500MW, but only about 7,000MW is available for transmission, and DisCos can off-take between 4,000MW and 4,500MW.
Minister Adelabu had earlier apologised for the erratic supply, citing factors beyond the ministry’s control, and promised relief within two weeks. However, as the timeline elapsed, many Nigerians report that the power situation has not improved significantly.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that the national grid’s wheeling capacity is now verified at 8,700MW, highlighting ongoing investments in transformers, substations, and transmission lines. The discrepancies between generation, transmission, and distribution figures continue to fuel debates among operators, while Nigerian consumers remain uncertain about when stable electricity will be restored.
