The Nigerian government has assured citizens that the widespread electricity blackout affecting the country will be resolved within the next two days. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, attributed the severe drop in power supply to a critical shortage in gas supply to thermal power plants.
Gas Pipeline Vandalism Triggers Grid Crisis
The root cause of the national power crisis is an explosion on the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline (ELP), compounded by acts of vandalism on other critical gas infrastructure. This disruption has severely limited the amount of gas available to generate electricity, forcing many power plants to reduce output or shut down completely.
Minister Adelabu revealed these details during an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across the power sector to address the emergency. Attendees included representatives from the Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Ministry of Power, Generation Companies (GENCOs), and Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
During the session, the stakeholders confirmed that repair work on the damaged pipelines is underway and is expected to be completed within 24 to 48 hours. Once repairs are finished, gas supply will resume, allowing power generation to ramp back up. The Minister has directed all relevant agencies to work around the clock to ensure this timeline is met.
Regional Impacts and Disco Responses
The effects of the generation shortfall have been felt acutely across the nation. In the South East, the commercial hub of Aba has been plunged into darkness after enjoying 60 days of stable electricity. Geometric Power, the area's integrated power provider, cited severe gas shortages as the reason for the sudden outage, disrupting business and commercial activities.
Similarly, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which serves Oyo, Kwara, Osun, and parts of Ogun and Ekiti states, issued a public apology for the poor supply. In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle @IBEDC_NG on Wednesday, December 24, the Disco explained that the situation resulted from a "reduction in load allocation from the national grid."
The company stated it is actively engaging with TCN and NISO to improve stability and is strategically allocating the limited available power to ensure fairness across its network.
Urgent Restoration for the Yuletide Season
Minister Adelabu emphasized the urgency of the situation, particularly given the increased demand for electricity during the Christmas and New Year period. The government is treating the restoration of gas supply and power generation as a top priority to minimize disruption to homes, businesses, and celebrations.
The national grid platform had earlier confirmed a sharp, system-wide drop in electricity generation, raising significant concerns about the stability of power supply nationwide. This incident highlights the continued vulnerability of Nigeria's power infrastructure to disruptions in gas supply, often caused by pipeline vandalism and technical faults.
As repair crews work to fix the vandalized pipelines, Nigerians are hopeful that the Minister's 48-hour assurance will hold true, bringing a swift end to the blackouts that have characterized the festive season.
