Power ministry moves to restore electricity supply in four states, Abuja

By Adebola Muili

The Federal Ministry of Power has commenced efforts to restore normal electricity supply in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states, as well as Abuja, following disruptions that have left households, businesses and public institutions experiencing reduced power supply in recent days.

The Ministry attributed the development to operational and maintenance challenges within parts of the electricity supply chain, coupled with inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, the Ministry said preliminary assessments showed that the disruptions were not caused by any major or systemic failure of the national grid, assuring consumers that the identified challenges were being addressed.

It acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the reduced supply, particularly in areas that had recently recorded noticeable improvements in electricity availability.

The Ministry explained that constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations had affected electricity generation, while lower water inflows into reservoirs had also reduced output from hydroelectric stations.

It added that maintenance and other operational issues affecting some components of the power sector had contributed to the situation.

To accelerate the restoration of supply, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was said to be working closely with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).

According to the Ministry, the minister had engaged the relevant operators to address the operational constraints responsible for the disruptions, speed up ongoing maintenance activities and ensure that normal supply was restored as quickly as possible.

The Ministry said it recognised the impact of electricity disruptions on households, businesses and public institutions, noting that consumers who had begun to enjoy more stable supply were understandably frustrated by the latest development.

It, however, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining the improvements already recorded and strengthening the reliability and quality of electricity supply across the country.

The Ministry assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to resolve the challenges and that further updates would be provided as restoration progresses.

It also appealed to electricity consumers for patience and understanding, stressing that the government remained committed to delivering more reliable power supply nationwide.