Nigeria's electricity generation plunged to 2,033.66 megawatts (MW) on Monday, with 16 power plants recording zero generation, according to data from the Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO) dashboard. This represents a drop of more than 3,300MW, or approximately 62%, from the 5,403MW recorded on September 24, worsening blackouts across several parts of the country.
Major Power Plants Affected
The affected facilities include some of the nation's major generating plants, such as Egbin, Geregu NIPP, Olorunsogo NIPP, Jebba, Kainji, Okpai, Rivers IPP, Trans Afam Power, Afam III Fast, Alaoji NIPP, Delta, GPAL, Ihovbor, MEPP and TAOPEX. As of 3pm on Monday, only 13 generating plants were producing electricity, according to the NISO dashboard.
The sharp decline in generation has put additional pressure on an already fragile power supply system, affecting households and businesses, particularly in major cities where residents depend heavily on public electricity supply to power homes, shops and factories.
Impact on Lagos Residents and Businesses
Several communities and businesses within the Ikeja Electric franchise area in Lagos were still without electricity as of 5pm on Monday, with many consumers uncertain about when supply would return. Business owners said the prolonged outage was increasing their operating expenses as they turned to diesel-powered generators to keep their activities running.
Moshood Adekunle, who operates a pure water factory in Ogba, said the prolonged blackout had forced his business to rely heavily on generators. According to him, the rising cost of diesel has added significantly to the company's expenses at a time when other business costs are already putting pressure on operators.
Residents of Iyana-Iba also complained about the prolonged power outage. Jude Ezeobi, a resident of the area, said his neighbourhood had been without electricity for more than two days, describing the situation as a major challenge for households and small businesses.
Assurances Amidst Crisis
The latest decline in power generation comes despite recent assurances from the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, that Nigerians were beginning to see noticeable improvements in electricity supply. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in Nigeria's power sector, as the country continues to grapple with inadequate generation and distribution infrastructure.
