The recent apology issued by Nigeria’s Minister of Power over electricity supply disruptions has been described as a demonstration of leadership, even as underlying challenges in the sector remain largely beyond his direct control.
Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, Adebayo Olowoniyi, Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power, said the current instability in electricity generation is closely tied to constraints in gas supply, which accounts for the bulk of Nigeria’s power production.
According to Olowoniyi, approximately 75 percent of the country’s electricity generation depends on gas-fired power plants, making the sector particularly vulnerable to disruptions in gas infrastructure.
He explained that one of the country’s major gas pipelines has been undergoing maintenance, a development that significantly affected supply to power plants nationwide.
However, he noted that the maintenance work is nearing completion and normal supply levels are expected to resume soon.
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“We are confident that within the next two weeks, full gas pressure will be restored to the pipeline,” he said, adding that this would enable power plants to ramp up production and return to generation levels recorded over the past three months.
Olowoniyi emphasized that while the minister took responsibility through his public apology, the situation highlights broader structural challenges within Nigeria’s energy value chain, particularly the interdependence between gas supply and electricity generation.
The development comes amid ongoing concerns from households and businesses grappling with inconsistent power supply, which continues to impact economic activities and daily life.
Analysts say the incident underscores the need for sustained investment in gas infrastructure, diversification of energy sources, and improved coordination across the power sector to enhance stability.
Despite the current setbacks, Olowoniyi expressed optimism that the restoration of gas supply would bring immediate relief to the grid and improve electricity availability across the country.