KEY POINTS

• Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu apologises for widespread electricity outages affecting homes, businesses, schools, and industries amid the dry-season heat.
• The government sets a two-week timeline for improved electricity supply, citing key gas pipeline repairs and monitoring of supplier compliance.
• Adelabu reassures Nigerians of long-term sector improvements, aiming to reach 6,000 megawatts of generation by the end of 2026 and surpass previous performance levels.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has officially apologised to Nigerians for the widespread electricity outages that have deepened hardship across homes, businesses, schools, and industries.

The apology came during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday and reflects growing frustration over erratic power supply amid scorching dry-season heat.

Adelabu acknowledged the severity of the situation, saying, “Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control.”

The minister provided a definitive timeline for relief, stating that with the efforts of a special committee and commitments from gas suppliers, electricity supply is expected to improve within two weeks. Key repairs to gas pipelines, particularly those operated by Seplat Energy, are set to restore gas flow to thermal power plants.

Adelabu explained that a dedicated committee is monitoring compliance by gas producers with domestic supply obligations, aiming to incentivise deliveries through improved payment flows.

Structural Challenges in the Power Sector

Nigeria’s power sector, largely reliant on gas-fired plants, has faced repeated disruptions due to inadequate gas supply, pipeline maintenance issues, and liquidity constraints. Adelabu noted that while these challenges are partly beyond government control, ongoing efforts are aimed at stabilising the system.

He added, “We are working on it 24/7 to make sure that we go back to the trajectory of 2025, when Nigerians commended us for a good job well done.”

The minister reiterated the Federal Government’s target to increase electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing current outages as a temporary deviation from broader improvement plans. Adelabu assured Nigerians that power generation, transmission, and distribution will all improve, with ambitions to surpass 2025’s performance levels.

“If we could provide such service in 2025, this is 2026, we are willing to do more, to even do better,” he said.