The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has attributed the continued decline in electricity generation across the national grid to persistent gas supply shortages affecting several thermal power plants.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the system operator said the inadequate gas supply has forced some generating units to shut down, leading to reduced power output nationwide.
NISO had earlier, on February 27, notified electricity distribution companies (DisCos) of a reduction in energy allocation due to the limited gas supply to thermal generating stations.
According to the statement, total generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53 megawatts (MW) as of 5:00 a.m. on March 5, 2026, already below expected capacity because of ongoing gas supply constraints.
The operator explained that between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., several power generation units were forced offline due to insufficient gas supply, resulting in a further reduction of about 292 MW in available grid generation.
NISO also revealed that operational data from March 4, 2026 showed thermal power plants require approximately 1,588.61 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.
However, the actual gas supplied to the plants was only 652.92 MMSCF, representing about 40 per cent of the total gas needed for full power generation.
The shortfall, according to the operator, has further reduced electricity available for dispatch to the national grid, contributing to the current generation shortfall being experienced across the country.
NISO said it is working closely with electricity generation companies (GenCos) and gas suppliers to monitor the situation and restore normal power generation once gas supply improves.
The agency added that it is implementing operational measures to maintain grid stability while managing the impact of the reduced power generation on the national network.