Minister of Power Gives Update on Nationwide Power Outage

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that electricity supply will be restored nationwide within 24 to 48 hours following a recent drop caused by a temporary shortfall in power generation.

Adelabu gave the assurance on Tuesday during a meeting with key power sector stakeholders, including the National Independent System Operator (NISO), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Ministry of Power, power generation companies, and distribution companies. He stressed the urgency of restoring gas supply and ramping up electricity generation, particularly in view of increased demand during the Yuletide season.

The assurance followed a statement by NISO, which said it was closely monitoring repair works being carried out by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, on vandalised gas pipelines. Stakeholders at the meeting confirmed that repairs would be completed within 24 to 48 hours, allowing gas supply to resume. The Minister subsequently directed all relevant agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the timeline is met.

The decline in electricity supply was traced to an explosion on the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline, compounded by acts of vandalism on critical gas infrastructure. The incidents disrupted gas supply to several thermal power plants, leading to a reduction in electricity generation across the country.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu acknowledged the inconvenience being experienced by households and businesses. He explained that the disruption is temporary and directly linked to acute gas supply constraints affecting multiple thermal power generation stations.

NISO confirmed that the pipeline explosion led to a significant reduction in electricity generation, with several gas-fired power stations recording reduced output. This resulted in a drop in available generation capacity on the national grid and a shortfall in supply to consumers. The System Operator, however, noted that NGPTC has assured that restoration works are nearing completion and full operations are expected to resume within 24 to 48 hours.

According to the Minister, preliminary investigations showed that the gas supply shortage was caused by the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline explosion and vandalism of gas pipelines in the Niger Delta. These incidents reduced the volume of gas available to power key electricity plants, leading to a sharp decline in overall generation on the national grid.

While acknowledging the impact of the power disruption, Adelabu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving the issue swiftly. He said the Ministry of Power is working round the clock with relevant agencies to restore supply as quickly as possible.

He expressed confidence that gas supply and power generation would improve significantly within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a gradual return to normal generation levels thereafter. Adelabu added that beyond immediate restoration efforts, the Federal Government is accelerating long-term measures to diversify the energy mix, strengthen grid resilience, and deploy advanced surveillance technologies to protect critical infrastructure.

The Minister appealed to Nigerians for patience and understanding during the temporary disruption and urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around power and gas facilities to security agencies. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to delivering stable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to support homes, industries, and the wider economy.