FG blames gas shortage, maintenance for outages in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara, Oyo
- The Ministry of Power says outages in five states come from gas shortages, low water inflows and maintenance work, not a grid collapse.
- Minister Joseph Tegbe says he is working with TCN, NISO and DisCos to restore supply and keep consumers updated.
- The FG also cleared 44 containers of power equipment stuck at Apapa ports, some since 2014.
Homes and businesses in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states are facing fresh electricity disruptions, and the Federal Ministry of Power says gas shortages and maintenance work are to blame, not a collapse of the national grid.
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that preliminary checks showed the problem came from "maintenance and operational issues on parts of the power ecosystem", together with less gas reaching thermal power stations and lower water inflows into hydroelectric dams.
It acknowledged the pain this causes. "We recognise what every hour without power means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly," the statement said.
The statement was signed by Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
What the numbers show
Electricity distribution data for Thursday showed the 11 distribution companies (DisCos) received a combined allocation of 2,926 megawatts as of 4:41pm, according to Punch. Abuja Disco got the largest share at 633MW, while Yola Disco received the lowest at 74MW.
Those figures are the load allocated to each DisCo at that time, not necessarily what every customer finally received.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has also pointed to inadequate gas supply and lower water levels in hydro reservoirs as major limits on what the grid can generate.
For ordinary Nigerians, the timing stings. The ministry admitted the affected areas had recently seen steadier supply before this setback. Every hour without power means higher costs for traders running generators, spoiled goods for small businesses, and discomfort for families.
Containers cleared at Apapa
In a related move, the Federal Government said it had cleared 44 containers of electricity equipment held at Apapa ports in Lagos, out of more than 300 stranded there, some since 2014.
Tegbe said the release followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu after the last Federal Executive Council meeting, asking the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority to settle outstanding charges.
Technical experts will inspect the contents before any deployment. Serviceable equipment will go to ongoing power projects, while unusable items will be disposed of, the minister said.
The ministry did not say what the 44 containers hold, their condition, or when the equipment will be deployed.
The recovery follows an earlier effort by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, which recovered 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages. That effort reportedly saved more than ₦30bn and unlocked about 470 megawatts of generation capacity through recovered turbines.
What happens next
Tegbe said he has engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and the DisCos to fix the operational problems, speed up maintenance and give consumers regular updates as supply improves.
"Nigerians deserve better power, and this administration is working to deliver it," the ministry said.
