Nigerians are facing reduced hours of electricity supply as shortages of natural gas and lower water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs limit the amount of power available for distribution across the country.

Distribution Companies (DisCos) received a combined 2,926 megawatts (MW), according to data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), reflecting the impact of constraints affecting both thermal and hydroelectric power stations.

The reduced allocations have resulted in increased load shedding across distribution networks, leaving households, businesses and public institutions with fewer hours of electricity.

Abuja DisCo received the largest allocation of 633MW, followed by Ibadan with 391MW and Port Harcourt with 320MW. Benin received 264MW, Eko 256MW, Enugu 253MW and Ikeja 249MW.

Other allocations included Jos with 146MW, Kaduna with 167MW, Kano with 173MW and Yola with 74MW.

NISO attributed the decline to inadequate gas supplies to thermal generating stations and reduced water inflows into reservoirs supplying hydroelectric plants. It explained that the gas shortage had prevented affected thermal stations from operating at their available capacity, while lower water levels had reduced output from hydroelectric facilities.

The combined effect has been a reduction in electricity available for allocation to DisCos, directly affecting the volume of power they can deliver to consumers.

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The Federal Ministry of Power has acknowledged the difficulties faced by electricity users, particularly communities and businesses that had recently experienced improvements in supply.

In a statement signed by Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Power, the ministry said it understood the disruption caused by the reduced supply and was working with relevant operators to address the situation.

It maintained that preliminary assessments did not indicate a major or systemic failure of the national grid. Instead, the disruptions were linked to maintenance and operational issues across parts of the power sector, alongside reduced generation caused by gas supply limitations and lower hydroelectric output.

The ministry said the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was engaging the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and DisCos to resolve the operational constraints, speed up ongoing maintenance and restore supply.

There are, however, signs of improvement in generation. Electricity output had risen to 3,688.95MW as of the time of filing this report, suggesting a recovery from the lower levels that had affected allocations to distribution companies.

Azura-Edo IPP contributed 437MW, while Okpai generated 421MW. Other major contributors included Delta with 334MW, Afam VI with 320MW, and Shiroro hydro with 295.90MW.

Jebba and Kainji hydro stations contributed 245MW and 214MW respectively, while Omotosho recorded 174.90MW, Zungeru 160MW, Olorunsogo 157.50MW, Geregu 117MW and Egbin 111MW.

Additional generation came from Omotosho NIPP at 102.10MW, Olorunsogo NIPP at 90.60MW, Paras Energy at 81.70MW, Afam III at 70MW, Omoku at 33.80MW, Dadinkowa at 20.25 MW, and Trans-Amadi at 2.20MW.

Although the improvement in generation offers some relief, the figures also highlight the challenge of maintaining a consistent electricity supply when gas availability, water inflows, and plant operations affect how much power can be produced.

For consumers, the immediate concern remains how quickly the improvements in generation will translate into more reliable electricity across distribution networks.

Meiza Nigeria