The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that efforts are underway to stabilise electricity supply nationwide, even as many households and businesses continue to grapple with recurring power outages.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a press briefing in which he outlined the ministry’s performance over the past three years. He acknowledged the current difficulties in the electricity sector but insisted that improvements were imminent.
According to him, Nigerians should begin to experience better power supply within the next two weeks.
Adelabu explained that the recent instability in electricity distribution is largely linked to a shortfall in gas supply to generating companies, arising from significant debts owed to gas suppliers.
Nigeria’s electricity generation remains heavily dependent on gas-fired power plants, making the sector particularly vulnerable to disruptions in gas availability.
He also warned that global developments, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, could further strain gas supply chains and worsen the situation if not properly managed.
In recent weeks, widespread power outages have been reported across several parts of the country, fuelling public frustration.
The national electricity system has also faced repeated operational challenges in recent years, including grid instability and transmission constraints linked to infrastructure limitations and liquidity pressures within the market.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria continues to play a central role in managing the transmission system, though the system remains under pressure.
Adelabu said the issues affecting supply are multifaceted, noting: “These issues collectively impact both the quantity and quality of gas delivered to power plants, leading to underutilisation of installed generation capacity, increased outages, and inefficiencies in power production.”
As part of long-term solutions, he advocated a stronger shift towards renewable energy, especially decentralised systems that can reduce pressure on the national grid.
To address this challenge, the minister suggested “scaling up renewable energy solutions, particularly off-grid and mini-grid systems.”
He further stated: “Renewable energy offers a cost-effective and sustainable pathway to expand access without overburdening the national grid.”
He added that integrating solar, hydro and other renewable sources into the national supply mix would improve energy security and reduce dependence on gas.
“Integrating utility-scale solar, hydro, and other renewables will also enhance energy security and support climate objectives,” he said.
He also stressed the need for investment in grid monitoring, control systems and improved planning to manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy while maintaining stability across the system.
“This will require investments in grid monitoring and control systems and system planning to effectively manage intermittency while maintaining grid stability,” he said.
Nigeria’s power sector continues to face structural challenges, including gas supply constraints, tariff liquidity gaps, ageing infrastructure and repeated transmission bottlenecks.
Last year, the Minister said Nigeria needs $10 billion annually for 20 years to have a steady electricity supply.
“For us to achieve functional, reliable, and stable electricity in Nigeria, we need at least $10 billion annually for the next 20 years. But there is some foundational bottleneck that we experienced in the past that needs to be fixed for the spending of this money to have meaning,” he stated.
In Nigeria’s 2026 budget, the federal government has allocated about ₦1.1 trillion to the power sector overall, making it one of the largest single‑sector allocations. This is an increase from the roughly ₦900 billion allocated to the power sector in the 2025 budget.
- Minister Assures Nigerians of Improved Power Supply Within 2 Weeks - March 25, 2026
- Labour Party Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to the South - March 25, 2026
- Insecurity Giving President Tinubu Sleepless Nights, Aide Says - March 25, 2026