The Federal Government says Nigeria’s electricity generation has recorded a modest improvement over the past two weeks, rising from 3,951 megawatts (MW) on March 28 to more than 4,300MW by April 10.
In a statement on Sunday, Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the increase reflects ongoing efforts to stabilise electricity supply across the country.
Tunji noted that the development aligns with the minister’s recent assurance at a power sector working group meeting, where Adelabu pledged improved electricity supply within two weeks.
According to him, the rise in generation is closely tied to increased gas supply to thermal power plants, which grew from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to over 704 mmscfd within the period.
“Data from the period under review show a consistent upward trend in generation, supported by improved gas availability and better coordination among stakeholders,” Tunji said.
He added that mechanical availability also improved significantly, peaking at over 7,796MW in early April, while operational availability rose from about 4,208MW to over 4,694MW.
“Despite minor fluctuations recorded on some days, the overall trajectory points to a gradual recovery in the power sector,” he said.
Tunji emphasised that the strong link between gas supply and electricity generation highlights the need for sustained interventions in the gas-to-power value chain, given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on thermal plants.
To sustain the gains, he said the Minister recently inaugurated a gas-to-power monitoring committee to improve coordination and ensure steady gas supply to generation companies.
“The committee is expected to address bottlenecks in gas delivery, enhance synergy between gas producers and power generation companies, and ultimately guarantee more stable electricity supply,” he said.
Tunji added that the government remains committed to sustaining and improving the progress recorded in the sector.
“We are not there yet, but we will continue to ensure measurable improvements,” he said.
Tunji also said Adelabu has urged the management of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to boost its internally generated revenue (IGR) and reduce dependence on government funding.
The minister made the call during a meeting with Olusegun Adesayo, Managing Director of the agency, and Ikechi Nwosu, Chairman of its board.
Adelabu stressed that NEMSA must strengthen its operational capacity while improving revenue generation, including expanding meter testing centres nationwide.
“We should plan towards having meter testing centres in each of the geopolitical zones. Having the right tools is critical to delivering on your mandate,” the minister said.
He also called for urgent action on manpower shortages, particularly among meter installers, urging collaboration with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria to expand technical training.
“We need to ensure more installers are trained to accelerate efforts to bridge the metering gap,” Adelabu said.
“You may not fix everything immediately, but understanding the problems and how to resolve them is key.”
The minister expressed confidence in the new leadership of the agency and said the full board would soon be inaugurated, urging officials to conduct a comprehensive review of its operational challenges.
Boluwatife Enome
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