By Peter Adelowo
Nigeria’s prolonged nationwide blackout has been officially linked to severe gas supply constraints to thermal power plants, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
In a statement issued on its official X platform, NISO said the country’s average available electricity generation has dropped to about 4,300 megawatts, significantly below installed capacity.
The operator attributed the decline to inadequate gas supply to thermal generating stations, which constitute the backbone of Nigeria’s electricity mix.
The disruption began in early February following scheduled maintenance on critical gas infrastructure by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Seplat Energy.
The exercise temporarily halted gas deliveries to several thermal plants, triggering a sharp fall in electricity generation.
However, continued gas constraints have prolonged the shortfall.
Operational data released by NISO indicates that thermal plants require approximately 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate optimally.
As of February 23, 2026, only about 692 million standard cubic feet per day was being supplied less than 43 per cent of required volume resulting in significantly reduced grid output and weaker energy allocation to Distribution Companies.
The development underscores the structural vulnerability of Nigeria’s power sector to upstream gas supply disruptions.
With thermal plants accounting for the dominant share of grid generation, stakeholders say there is an urgent need to strengthen gas-to-power coordination, diversify the energy mix, and enhance infrastructure resilience to prevent recurring nationwide outages.
Industry observers note that resolving the crisis will require sustained collaboration between gas producers, transmission operators, regulators, and government agencies to stabilise supply and restore consumer confidence in the electricity market.
