The Federal Government has acknowledged disruptions to electricity supply in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states, blaming gas shortages, reduced water inflows into hydroelectric dams and maintenance challenges.
The government, however, assured Nigerians that efforts were underway to restore normal electricity supply, insisting that the recent disruptions were not caused by any major failure of the national grid.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, gave the assurance through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Adelabu, on Thursday.
The ministry said the affected areas had recently recorded improvements in electricity supply before the latest disruptions, which have left households, businesses and public institutions grappling with reduced power.
It acknowledged the frustration caused by the development, particularly among Nigerians who had begun to enjoy more stable electricity.
“The ministry acknowledges the inconvenience this has caused households, businesses and public institutions.
“We recognise what every hour without power means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly,” the statement quoted Adelabu as saying.
Explaining the reasons for the disruptions, the ministry said preliminary assessments linked the situation to operational and maintenance challenges across parts of the power sector.
It also identified inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced electricity generation from hydroelectric plants due to declining water inflows into reservoirs as major contributing factors.
The ministry said, “They stem from maintenance and operational issues on parts of the power ecosystem, together with a decline in generation caused by constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower water inflows into reservoirs.
“All of these are being addressed.”
The government said Tegbe was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Nigerian Independent System Operator and electricity distribution companies to resolve the challenges and accelerate the restoration of supply.
According to the statement, the minister had engaged the relevant agencies to address operational constraints, fast-track ongoing maintenance and ensure that Nigerians received regular updates on the restoration process.
The ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining recent improvements in electricity supply and strengthening the reliability of the national power system.
Tegbe said Nigerians deserved a more dependable electricity supply, adding that the administration remained committed to improving the sector.
“Nigerians deserve better power, and this administration is working to deliver it,” the minister said.
He thanked Nigerians for their patience and understanding, promising that further updates would be provided as efforts to restore normal supply progressed.
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