Electricity generation on Nigeria’s national grid dropped sharply on Thursday to 3,940 megawatts (MW) as gas supply shortages forced several thermal power plants to scale down operations.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) blamed the development on persistent constraints in gas supply to power generating companies.
In a statement issued in Abuja, NISO said total electricity generation stood at 3,940.53MW as at 05:00 hours on March 5, 2026, already below expected capacity due to ongoing gas supply limitations affecting a number of generating stations.
The situation worsened between 06:00 and 08:00 hours, when several generating units were forced to shut down due to inadequate gas supply to thermal plants.
According to the operator, the shutdown of the affected units resulted in a cumulative loss of about 292MW on the national grid within the two-hour period.
NISO disclosed that operational data as of March 4 showed that thermal power plants across the country require about 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.
However, only 652.92 MMSCF of gas was supplied to the plants, representing about 40 per cent of the daily requirement.
The significant shortfall, the operator said, drastically reduced the electricity available for dispatch to the national grid, contributing to the current drop in generation.
“NISO is actively working with the affected Generation Companies and relevant gas suppliers to closely monitor the situation and facilitate the restoration of generation as soon as gas supply to the affected plants stabilises,” the statement said.
The system operator added that it is taking necessary operational measures to maintain stability of the grid while managing the impact of reduced power generation on electricity supply.
Nigeria depends largely on gas-fired thermal power plants for electricity generation, making steady gas supply a critical factor in sustaining power output on the national grid.
NISO assured that it would continue to keep stakeholders and the public informed on developments affecting electricity generation and the overall operation of the power system.
Gas Shortage Hits Power Supply as Generation Crashes to 3,940MW
