Power minister explains recent nationwide outages

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has explained the reasons for the erratic electricity supply across major cities in the country in recent weeks, saying maintenance work and gas supply constraints have reduced power generation.

In a brief statement posted on his social media pages on Friday, Mr Tegbe said he was aware of the situation and the difficulties it had caused households and businesses, adding that efforts were ongoing to address the problem.

“I am aware of the strain that the current outages have placed on households and businesses in four affected states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory,” the minister said.

Recently, electricity supply across major metropolitan areas in Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja, has declined significantly.

The situation has been compounded by high temperatures and extreme heat as the country’s rainy season gradually draws to a close.

The unreliable electricity supply has placed additional pressure on businesses and households, particularly as petrol prices remain elevated. While many are struggling to cope, others are increasingly turning to solar systems and inverters to meet their energy needs.

On Friday, Mr Tegbe attributed the power outages to planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and constraints in gas supply to some thermal power plants, which have reduced the volume of electricity available on the national grid.

“Grid operators have, therefore, implemented load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall. Sabotage of key transmission lines has also restricted the use of alternative routes to supply some locations, especially Lagos,” he said.

The minister said he and his team were working to return the affected generating units to service in phases, with the first units expected to come back online within the next 48 to 72 hours.

“We are also working with operators to improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to the damaged infrastructure. I thank everyone affected for their patience and will provide further updates as supply is gradually restored,” he said.

The latest disruption underscores the persistent challenges confronting Nigeria’s power sector despite years of investment and successive reform efforts.

Electricity supply remains unreliable across many parts of the country, with households and businesses frequently forced to contend with prolonged outages and the rising cost of alternative energy sources.

Despite enormous investments in generation infrastructure over the years, low plant availability, gas supply constraints, maintenance challenges, transmission hitches and ageing grid infrastructure continue to limit effective electricity delivery across Nigeria.