Electricity generation across Nigeria’s national grid declined on Thursday after several power plants were forced to shut down due to insufficient gas supply, the Nigerian Independent System Operator has said.
In a statement released on Thursday, the operator disclosed that total electricity generation stood at 3,940.53 megawatts as of 05:00 hours on March 5, 2026, already below the country’s expected capacity because of persistent gas supply challenges affecting thermal power stations.
The agency explained that the situation deteriorated further between 06:00 and 08:00 hours, when several generating units were shut down as gas supply to the affected plants dropped significantly.
According to the operator, the shutdown of the units led to a cumulative loss of about 292 megawatts of electricity on the national grid within the two-hour period.
The statement also revealed that operational records from March 4, 2026, show that thermal power plants across the country require approximately 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to function at optimal capacity.
However, the actual gas supplied to the plants was only 652.92MMSCF, representing about 40 percent of the total gas needed for efficient power generation.
The operator noted that the shortfall in gas supply has significantly reduced the amount of electricity available for distribution on the national grid, worsening the power generation deficit currently affecting the system.
Despite the setback, the agency said it is working closely with electricity generation companies and gas suppliers to address the supply challenge and restore generation levels once gas delivery stabilises.
It added that the System Operator is implementing necessary operational measures to maintain grid stability while managing the impact of the reduced generation, assuring that stakeholders and the public will be updated as the situation develops.
