Olawunmi Ajibike
Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) received only 2,830 megawatts (MW) of electricity on Thursday as persistent gas shortages forced several power plants to limit generation, leaving many homes and industries across the country in darkness.
Operational data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that power generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53MW at about 5:00 a.m. on March 5, 2026.
However, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., several generating units were forced offline due to inadequate gas supply, causing an additional 292MW drop in available generation.
The reduced output significantly constrained the electricity supplied to the country’s 11 distribution companies, leaving them with a combined allocation of 2,830MW, according to system dispatch data. Generation later fell as low as 1,490MW around 6:00 p.m.
Among the DisCos, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received the largest share with 490MW, followed by Ikeja Electric with 484MW and Eko Electricity Distribution Company with 413MW.
Other allocations included 306MW to Ibadan DisCo, 207MW to Benin DisCo, and 198MW to Enugu DisCo.
Further down the list were 178MW to Port Harcourt DisCo, 173MW to Kano DisCo, 161MW to Kaduna DisCo, 144MW to Jos DisCo, and 76MW to Yola DisCo.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is moving to strengthen electricity supply through renewable energy.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, disclosed in Abuja during a visit by the National Judicial Institute that the country will add more than 200MW of solar power through over 1,000 mini-grid projects under a nationwide rural electrification programme.
Aliyu explained that the projects form part of a $750 million public programme aimed at expanding electricity access to underserved communities.
The current power shortage highlights the persistent challenge of gas supply constraints, which continue to hamper electricity generation in Nigeria despite the country’s vast natural gas reserves.
The situation is further complicated by rising global gas prices driven by tensions in the Middle East, making gas exports more attractive while domestic prices remain regulated at lower levels.