The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that electricity supply will be fully restored within 24 to 48 hours after a recent decline due to disruptions in power generation.
The assurance was conveyed in a statement issued Tuesday night in Abuja by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the minister. According to the statement, Adelabu gave the assurance during a meeting with key power sector stakeholders, including the Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO).
Tunji explained that the drop in electricity supply was triggered by an explosion on the Escravos–Lagos Gas Pipeline (ELP), compounded by vandalism to critical gas infrastructure. The incidents disrupted gas supply to several thermal power plants nationwide, reducing electricity generation.
“The situation is expected to be resolved within the next 24 to 48 hours,” Tunji said, adding that stakeholders at the meeting confirmed repairs on the vandalised pipelines were nearing completion.
The minister directed all relevant agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the repair timeline is strictly adhered to, stressing the urgency of restoring stable electricity supply, especially during the Yuletide season when power demand is typically high.
Adelabu’s assurance followed a statement by NISO that it was closely monitoring repair work being carried out by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
NISO confirmed that the pipeline explosion led to a significant nationwide reduction in electricity generation, with several gas-fired power stations reporting lower output. This, it said, led to a drop in available generation capacity on the national grid and a consequent shortfall in electricity supply to consumers.
However, the system operator noted that NGPTC had assured it that restoration work was nearly complete, with full operations expected to resume within 24 to 48 hours.
The minister acknowledged the inconvenience caused to households and businesses, emphasising that the disruption was temporary and directly linked to acute gas supply constraints affecting several thermal power stations.
Preliminary investigations, Adelabu said, indicated that the gas shortage was caused by the ELP explosion and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, which significantly reduced the volume of gas required to power key electricity plants.
“These incidents sharply reduced overall generation on the national grid,” he said.
While expressing regret for the disruption’s impact, Adelabu reassured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving the issue swiftly.
“We understand the frustration this has caused Nigerians. However, we wish to assure the public that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Power, is working round the clock to address the situation with utmost urgency,” he stated.
