By Juliet Ezeh
Nigeria’s electricity generation has fallen below 4,000 megawatts amid worsening gas supply shortages affecting thermal power plants, deepening the country’s ongoing power crisis.
Operational data released by the Nigerian Independent System Operator shows that available generation capacity on the national grid has declined sharply in recent weeks.
As of Tuesday, the country’s power distribution companies in Nigeria were sharing just about 3,053MW of electricity, a level widely considered insufficient to meet national demand.
Industry stakeholders attribute the decline largely to gas constraints affecting thermal plants, which generate the majority of Nigeria’s electricity.
According to the system operator’s data, thermal power stations require about 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.
However, actual supply as of February 23, 2026, stood at only about 692 million standard cubic feet per day, representing less than 43 per cent of the required volume.
The shortage has forced several power plants to reduce output or shut down operations, leading the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ration electricity supply through load shedding across the country.
Electricity consumers in multiple states have reported prolonged blackouts, with distribution companies attributing the outages to limited generation caused by inadequate gas supply.
The situation has been compounded by rising temperatures and increased reliance on alternative energy sources such as petrol and diesel generators.
The crisis is also linked to mounting debts within the electricity value chain. The Association of Power Generation Companies says the Federal Government currently owes power generation companies about N6.8tn for electricity supplied to the national grid.
According to the association, a significant portion of the outstanding payments is owed to gas suppliers whose fuel powers most of the country’s thermal power plants.
Industry experts warn that unless the financial impasse is resolved quickly, continued gas supply constraints could further reduce electricity generation and worsen power outages for households and businesses nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the Federal Government is working with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to address the gas supply challenges affecting electricity generation.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.