Nigeria Power Generation Drops as Gas Supply Falls 60% Below Requirement

Nigeria’s electricity generation has declined further as gas supply to power plants remains far below required levels, forcing several thermal stations to scale down operations.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) disclosed that the current gas supply is significantly lower than the volume needed to sustain optimal electricity generation across the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the grid operator said persistent gas supply constraints have compelled multiple generating units to shut down, leading to a reduction of about 292 megawatts (MW) of electricity on the national grid.

According to NISO, power generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53 MW as of 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, already below the expected capacity due to limited gas supply to several generating stations.

The situation worsened between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. when additional generating units were forced offline because of inadequate gas supply.

The operator explained that the shutdown of these units resulted in a cumulative loss of approximately 292 MW from the national grid during that period.

Operational data reviewed by the system operator also revealed a major gap between the gas required by thermal power plants and the actual supply being delivered.

According to NISO, thermal generating stations require about 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) of gas daily to operate at full capacity. However, as of March 4, only about 652.92 mmscf was supplied—representing roughly 40 percent of the required volume.

The shortfall has further reduced the volume of electricity available for distribution on the national grid, worsening supply challenges across the country.

NISO said it is currently working with affected Generation Companies (GenCos) and gas suppliers to resolve the supply disruptions and restore normal power generation once gas deliveries improve.

The system operator added that it is also implementing operational measures aimed at maintaining grid stability while managing the effects of reduced generation capacity.

Despite the challenges, NISO assured that it will continue to provide updates to stakeholders and the public on developments affecting the national electricity grid.