FG Attributes Power Outages in Five States to Gas Shortage, Maintenance Challenges

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has attributed recent electricity supply disruptions in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states to gas shortages, maintenance challenges and reduced output from hydropower plants.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, acknowledged the worsening electricity situation, assuring consumers that the government was working with relevant agencies and electricity distribution companies to restore normal supply.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Adelabu, Tegbe said preliminary assessments indicated that the disruptions were not caused by a major or systemic failure of the national grid.

He explained that maintenance and operational challenges across parts of the electricity value chain, inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced water inflows into hydropower reservoirs had affected electricity generation.

The minister said the government had engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Independent System Operator and electricity distribution companies to address the challenges and accelerate ongoing maintenance.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced by households, businesses and public institutions as a result of the reduced supply.

The latest electricity allocation figures showed that the 11 distribution companies received a combined 2,926 megawatts as of 4:41pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received the highest allocation of 633MW, representing approximately 21.6 per cent of the total.

Ibadan Disco received 391MW, followed by Port Harcourt Disco with 320MW. Benin Disco got 264MW, Eko Disco 256MW, Enugu Disco 253MW and Ikeja Disco 249MW.

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

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

FG clears 44 containers of abandoned power equipment

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has facilitated the release of 44 containers of electricity equipment that had been stranded at Apapa ports in Lagos, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s power infrastructure.

Tegbe disclosed that more than 300 containers had remained stranded at the ports, with some reportedly abandoned since 2014.

He 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 outstanding issues.

According to the minister, the first 44 containers have been released, and technical experts will inspect their contents before they are deployed.

He explained that equipment found to be serviceable would be used for ongoing electricity projects, while unusable materials would be disposed of appropriately.

The development follows the recovery of 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company under its Managing Director, Jennifer Adighije.

That recovery reportedly saved more than ₦30 billion and helped unlock approximately 470 megawatts of electricity generation capacity through recovered turbines.

Although the latest clearance is expected to provide additional equipment for power infrastructure projects, the ministry has not disclosed the specific contents or condition of the 44 containers, or when the materials will be deployed.

The Daily Reality