Nigeria’s national power grid is under critical strain, with the majority of generating stations offline and electricity output plunging far below national demand, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
As of Friday, only eight of more than 30 plants connected to the grid were operational, producing a combined total of roughly 1,212MW—less than 6 per cent of the country’s peak demand of over 20,000MW.
Hydropower facilities carried the brunt of electricity generation, with Kainji Hydro producing 425MW, Zungeru Hydro 299MW, and Shiroro Hydro 274.32MW. Gas-fired plants performed poorly, as Paras Energy delivered 103.1MW, while Omoku, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho each contributed about 31MW. Several major stations, including Egbin, Azura-Edo, Delta, Geregu, Ibom, Okpai, and multiple National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) facilities, reported zero output.
NISO cited gas supply disruptions, maintenance outages, transmission bottlenecks, and financial constraints as key factors behind the severe shortfall. Experts warn that continued generation below 1,500MW could trigger widespread blackouts and extensive load shedding nationwide, threatening both residential and industrial users.
The crisis highlights a persistent gap between Nigeria’s installed capacity and actual electricity generation. Despite trillions of naira invested in the sector, systemic inefficiencies continue to undermine supply. Recent initiatives, including the NNPC Ltd Gas Master Plan 2026—which targets 10 billion cubic feet of daily gas production—aim to boost generation and support industrialisation. However, industry stakeholders emphasise that structural reforms, reliable gas supply agreements, and tariff adjustments remain critical to stabilising the national grid.
Monday, March 9, 2026
Nigeria Generates Less Than 6% Of Peak Electricity Demand ‑ NISO
