Electricity generation on Nigeria's national grid has dropped to 3,659 megawatts (MW) as of 3 pm on November 5, 2026, from a peak of 3,996MW recorded on Wednesday. The Federal Government attributed the decline to gas supply constraints to thermal power plants, reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs, and operational challenges within the power sector. This drop has affected electricity allocation to Distribution Companies (DisCos), resulting in shorter hours of supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
According to data obtained from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), the 11 electricity distribution companies received a combined allocation of 3,031MW as of 5:39 pm on November 5. Abuja Disco received the highest allocation of 669MW, followed by Ibadan Disco with 413MW and Port Harcourt Disco with 338MW. Other DisCos, including Benin, Enugu, Eko, Ikeja, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, and Yola, received allocations ranging from 74MW to 279MW. The reduced allocation has led to complaints from electricity consumers in various states.
The Federal Ministry of Power acknowledged the complaints from electricity consumers in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara, and Oyo states over worsening supply in recent days. The Ministry noted that the affected areas had recently experienced noticeable improvements in electricity supply before the latest disruptions. It ruled out a major or systemic failure of the national grid, instead linking the disruptions to maintenance and operational challenges in parts of the power value chain, alongside declining generation.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, is working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO, and electricity distribution companies to address the challenges and restore normal supply. The Ministry recognizes the impact of the disruptions on consumers and is working to resolve the operational constraints, accelerate ongoing maintenance, and keep the public informed about restoration efforts. NISO confirmed that limited gas availability had constrained the ability of affected thermal generating stations to operate at their available capacities.
NISO stated that reduced water inflows into reservoirs have impacted the generation capacity of hydroelectric power stations. The system operator explained that the reduction in available generation had affected the volume of electricity allocated to DisCos for distribution to consumers, resulting in increased load shedding. The extent of the impact varied across distribution networks, depending on available generation and the corresponding allocations to individual DisCos.
NISO remains committed to maintaining grid stability and optimizing the dispatch of available generation. The system operator is working towards diversifying the country's energy mix to strengthen security of electricity supply. The Federal Government and NISO are working together to address the challenges facing the power sector and restore normal electricity supply to consumers.
The power sector challenges have significant impacts on individuals, families, and businesses. The Ministry of Power and NISO are working to resolve the issues and restore normal supply. Key points to note include the drop in power generation to 3,659MW, the allocation of 3,031MW to DisCos, and the commitment to maintaining grid stability and optimizing generation dispatch.
Key points
- Power generation in Nigeria drops to 3,659MW due to gas supply constraints and operational challenges.
- The Federal Government and NISO are working together to address the challenges facing the power sector.
- The disruptions have significant impacts on individuals, families, and businesses.
