Nigeria’s electricity output drops to 3,940MW amid gas supply crisis

Nigeria’s electricity generation has dropped below 4,000 megawatts because of a shortage of gas needed to power thermal plants, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).

In a statement released on Thursday, the system operator said the national grid generated 3,940.53 megawatts as of 5:00 a.m., showing that the ongoing gas supply problems are affecting power production across the country.

The agency explained that many power plants that rely on gas are currently unable to operate at full capacity because they are not getting enough fuel.

According to the statement titled “Gas Constraints Lead to Temporary Reduction in Power Generation,” electricity generation was already lower than expected due to limited gas supply to several generating stations.

The situation worsened between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., when some generating units had to shut down because they did not receive enough gas. This caused electricity generation on the national grid to drop by about 292 megawatts during that period.

NISO also noted that this development comes only a few weeks after a similar warning was issued in February 2026. At that time, electricity generation had already dropped to about 4,300 megawatts due to gas supply challenges.

The latest figure of 3,940.53 megawatts shows that the situation has become worse.

Data released by the system operator shows that thermal power plants connected to the national grid require about 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate at full capacity. However, they are currently receiving only 652.92 million standard cubic feet per day, which is roughly 40 percent of the required supply.

Because of this shortage, many power plants cannot produce enough electricity, leading to reduced power supply in several parts of the country.

NISO said it is working closely with power generation companies and gas suppliers to restore normal gas supply to the affected plants as quickly as possible.

The operator added that it is taking necessary steps to maintain stability on the national grid despite the reduced electricity generation.

Nigeria’s electricity sector depends largely on gas-fired thermal plants, which produce more than 70 percent of the country’s power.

However, the sector has long faced problems such as pipeline vandalism, poor gas infrastructure, payment disputes between power companies and gas suppliers, and the diversion of gas to more profitable export markets.

Even though Nigeria has some of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, many power plants still operate below their capacity because of supply challenges.

The government has promised to address the problem by increasing domestic gas production, expanding pipeline networks, and improving payment systems within the electricity market.

Meanwhile, NISO said it will continue to update stakeholders and electricity consumers about developments affecting power generation and the national grid.