FG blames gas crunch for worsening power outages

The Federal Government has blamed gas shortages, maintenance challenges and declining hydropower generation for worsening electricity outages in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states, amid growing complaints from consumers over reduced supply.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the disruptions followed recent improvements in electricity supply across the affected areas, insisting that preliminary assessments showed no major or systemic failure of the national grid.

The outages come as electricity distribution companies received a combined allocation of 2,926 megawatts as of 4:41pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to the latest distribution data.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received the highest allocation of 633MW, representing about 21.6 per cent of the total. Ibadan Disco followed with 391MW, while Port Harcourt Disco received 320MW.

Benin Disco was allocated 264MW, Eko Disco 256MW, Enugu Disco 253MW and Ikeja Disco 249MW.

Kano Disco received 173MW, Kaduna Disco 167MW and Jos Disco 146MW, while Yola Disco recorded the lowest allocation at 74MW.

The figures represent electricity allocated to the distribution companies at the stated time and do not necessarily reflect the actual supply delivered to consumers.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Adelabu, Tegbe said the government was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Independent System Operator and electricity distribution companies to resolve the supply constraints.

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He attributed the disruptions to maintenance and operational challenges across parts of the electricity value chain, inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydropower plants due to lower water inflows.

The minister acknowledged the impact of the outages on households, businesses and public institutions, promising to accelerate efforts to restore electricity supply.

“The Ministry acknowledges the inconvenience this has caused households, businesses and public institutions, and understands the frustration of Nigerians who had begun to see the benefits of steadier supply.

“We recognise what every hour without power means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly,” he said.

Tegbe said he had engaged relevant agencies and distribution companies to address the constraints, speed up ongoing maintenance and ensure consumers receive updates on restoration efforts.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has facilitated the clearance of 44 containers of electricity equipment stranded at Apapa ports in Lagos, where more than 300 containers had reportedly remained abandoned, some since 2014.

The minister said the clearance followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive after the last Federal Executive Council meeting, mandating the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority to resolve the outstanding issues.

According to Tegbe, the President directed the agencies to reconcile outstanding charges and facilitate the release of the equipment.

He said the first 44 containers had been released following the intervention, adding that technical experts would inspect their contents before deployment.

Serviceable equipment, he said, would be deployed to ongoing electricity projects, while unusable items would be disposed of appropriately.

The clearance comes after the Niger Delta Power Holding Company recovered 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages under its Managing Director, Jennifer Adighije.

The recovery reportedly saved more than N30bn and helped unlock about 470MW of electricity generation capacity through recovered turbines.

The Ministry of Power said the latest clearance was expected to provide additional equipment for ongoing power infrastructure projects.

However, it did not disclose the specific contents of the 44 containers, their condition or when the equipment would be deployed.