Electricity generation on Nigeria’s national grid dropped sharply on Thursday after several power plants were forced to shut down due to inadequate gas supply.
Bellnews reports that the development was disclosed by the Nigerian Independent System Operator, which oversees the management of electricity generation and grid operations across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency revealed that as of 05:00 hours on March 5, 2026, total electricity generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53 megawatts (MW).
According to the operator, the figure was already below expected capacity because of persistent gas supply constraints affecting several thermal power stations.
The operator explained that the situation worsened between 06:00 and 08:00 hours, when multiple generating units were shut down due to insufficient gas supply.
“Between 06:00 hours and 08:00 hours, several generating units were forced to shut down as a result of inadequate gas supply to the plants. This resulted in a cumulative reduction of approximately 292MW in available generation on the grid during the period,” the statement said.
The shutdown further reduced the amount of electricity available for dispatch across the national grid.
Operational data from March 4, 2026 showed that thermal power plants across Nigeria require about 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.
However, the actual gas supplied to the plants was only 652.92MMSCF, representing roughly 40 per cent of the required supply.
The operator said the shortfall significantly affected the ability of generating companies to maintain stable electricity production.
The system operator said it is currently working with electricity generation companies and gas suppliers to address the situation and restore generation once gas supply improves.
“These developments further reduced the total generation available for dispatch to the national grid and have contributed to the current generation inadequacy being experienced across the system,” the agency stated.
It added that operational measures are being implemented to maintain grid stability while managing the impact of the reduced generation.
It said: “The System Operator continues to take necessary operational measures to maintain grid stability while managing the impact of the reduced generation on the network.”