Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has criticised Nigeria’s persistent electricity shortages, challenging the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, to explain why millions of Nigerians continue to experience unreliable power supply despite years of government spending and repeated promises to improve the sector.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Friday, November 6, 2026, Henshaw expressed frustration over the limited electricity available to households and businesses, questioning the explanations offered by government officials for the situation.
Her criticism comes amid renewed power disruptions affecting several parts of the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states. The Federal Government has acknowledged the reduction in supply, attributing it to maintenance and operational difficulties, inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants.
The actress questioned why Nigerians were still struggling to access regular electricity in 2026, arguing that the situation had placed an additional burden on citizens already dealing with high living costs.
Kate Henshaw Questions Government’s Explanation
In her social media video, Henshaw directly addressed the Minister of Power, expressing dissatisfaction with the limited hours of electricity available to consumers.
She questioned a reported explanation that some Nigerians had complained about excessive electricity supply because the contents of their freezers were becoming too cold.
The actress challenged the logic of the reported complaint, asking why anyone would request a reduction in electricity supply when many households were struggling to receive enough power for basic domestic activities.
She also demanded that the minister identify the individuals who allegedly made such complaints, questioning whether their experiences reflected the situation faced by ordinary electricity consumers.
Henshaw’s remarks reflected broader public frustration over the recurring gap between government assurances and the everyday experience of households that continue to experience prolonged outages.
She further criticised electricity distribution companies for billing customers who, according to her, receive inadequate supply and must still spend additional money on alternative sources of electricity.
The actress questioned the substantial sums reportedly invested in the power sector over the years, arguing that Nigerians should be seeing meaningful improvements in electricity delivery.
Her comments also referred to the previous administration in the power ministry, during which electricity tariffs were increased under former minister Adebayo Adelabu. Henshaw questioned why consumers continued to face poor supply despite previous tariff adjustments and ongoing government interventions.
Power Minister Acknowledges Recent Electricity Disruptions
The criticism comes as the Ministry of Power has acknowledged complaints about reduced electricity supply in several Nigerian states.
In a statement reported by TheCable on November 5, the ministry said the affected locations included Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo, areas where consumers had recently experienced improvements before the latest disruptions.
The ministry attributed the decline to maintenance and operational challenges affecting parts of the electricity value chain.
It also identified inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants because of lower water inflows into reservoirs as factors contributing to the reduction in electricity generation.
According to the ministry, preliminary assessments did not indicate a major or systemic failure of the national grid.
Tegbe said he had engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and electricity distribution companies to address the constraints, accelerate ongoing maintenance and work towards restoring normal supply.
The ministry also acknowledged the inconvenience caused to households, businesses and public institutions, noting that reduced electricity availability affects daily activities and economic operations.
However, the ministry’s explanation has not removed public concerns about the continued instability of electricity supply or the absence of a clearly stated nationwide restoration timetable.
Gas Shortages and Reduced Hydropower Output Add to the Crisis
Beyond the minister’s explanation, the latest developments point to challenges affecting electricity generation at the source.
Nigeria relies heavily on gas-fired thermal power stations and hydroelectric facilities to generate electricity for the national grid. When gas supplies become inadequate or water levels and inflows affect hydropower production, the amount of electricity available for transmission and distribution can decline.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator has identified gas supply constraints affecting thermal power stations and reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs as major factors behind the recent decline in generation.
The combination of these challenges has reduced the electricity available for distribution companies, contributing to shorter supply hours and increased load shedding in affected areas.
The Guardian reported on November 6 that data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed average daily gas utilisation by power plants declined by four per cent to 518 million standard cubic feet per day in September 2026, compared with August.
The figures highlight the connection between the country’s gas supply industry and electricity generation. Although Nigeria has substantial natural gas resources, getting sufficient gas to power stations remains an important challenge for the electricity sector.
Hydroelectric generation also depends on water availability and inflows into reservoirs. Reduced inflows can limit the output of power stations, particularly when thermal generation is already affected by gas constraints.
These pressures demonstrate that electricity shortages cannot be addressed through distribution arrangements alone. Reliable supply requires improvements across the entire electricity value chain, including gas production and transportation, power generation, transmission infrastructure and distribution networks.
Electricity Allocation Figures Reflect Pressure on Supply
Recent electricity allocation figures also provide an indication of the pressure facing distribution companies.
According to figures reported by Punch Newspapers, the 11 electricity distribution companies received a combined allocation of 2,926 megawatts as of 4:41 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received 633MW, the highest allocation among the distribution companies at the stated time. Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company received 391MW, while Port Harcourt received 320MW.
Other allocations included 264MW for Benin, 256MW for Eko, 253MW for Enugu and 249MW for Ikeja.
Kaduna received 167MW, Kano received 173MW, Jos received 146MW, while Yola received 74MW.
These figures represent electricity allocated to distribution companies at a particular time. They should not be interpreted as the exact amount ultimately delivered to every household or business, since actual supply can be affected by network conditions, distribution constraints and load management.
Nevertheless, the figures illustrate the limited volume of electricity being shared across the country’s distribution networks during the period.
For consumers, reduced allocations can translate into fewer hours of electricity, particularly where distribution companies must manage available supply across different locations and customer categories.
Entertainers Join Public Complaints Over Power Supply
Henshaw is not the only Nigerian entertainer to express frustration over the electricity situation.
Singer Spyro also described his experience after visiting an electricity distribution company office to complain about poor supply despite paying for Band A service.
According to a report by Pulse Nigeria, Spyro said he was surprised to find that employees at the distribution company’s office were also experiencing electricity difficulties.
He recounted that a staff member who attended to him reportedly explained that neighbours mocked her for working at an electricity company while she also struggled to enjoy regular power supply.
His account drew attention to the fact that electricity challenges affect not only customers but also people working within the distribution system.
Content creator Cute Abiola also appealed to President Bola Tinubu over the outages, expressing frustration about the situation despite having solar power as an alternative.
The complaints from the entertainers reflect a wider public concern that cuts across different sections of society. Electricity remains essential for domestic activities, commercial operations, education, healthcare and communication, making prolonged outages a major concern for households and businesses.
Why Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis Matters
The country’s electricity challenges have consequences beyond inconvenience.
For small businesses, unreliable supply increases operating costs because many operators must purchase fuel, maintain generators or invest in solar systems and inverters to keep their activities running.
Businesses that depend on refrigeration, machinery, computers and other electrical equipment may experience interruptions that affect productivity, service delivery and revenue.
Households also face additional financial pressure when they must pay electricity bills while spending more money on alternative power sources.
The situation can be particularly difficult for low-income families that cannot afford generators, battery systems or solar installations.
Public institutions, including schools and healthcare facilities, also depend on reliable electricity to support essential services. Interruptions can affect teaching, medical equipment, storage of temperature-sensitive medicines and the general delivery of public services.
For Nigeria’s economy, the availability of affordable and dependable electricity remains an important factor in industrial development, investment and job creation.
The electricity crisis also raises questions about accountability in a sector that has received significant public and private investment over several years.
While the causes of individual supply disruptions may differ, consumers ultimately expect electricity providers and government institutions to deliver measurable improvements.
Government Faces Pressure to Deliver Measurable Improvements
The latest complaints present another challenge for the Federal Government as it seeks to improve electricity supply and restore public confidence in the sector.
The Ministry of Power has said it is working with TCN, NISO and distribution companies to resolve operational constraints and accelerate maintenance activities.
However, consumers will be looking for evidence that these engagements translate into longer and more predictable electricity supply hours.
Addressing gas shortages will also require coordination across the energy sector, including the institutions responsible for gas production, transportation and delivery to power stations.
Similarly, improvements in transmission and distribution infrastructure remain necessary to ensure that electricity generated by power plants can reach consumers efficiently.
Nigeria’s electricity sector also operates under a regulatory framework that includes the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023. Effective regulation, transparent reporting and accountability are important to ensuring that reforms produce benefits for consumers.
Henshaw’s intervention has therefore added a prominent public voice to an issue that affects millions of Nigerians. Her criticism reflects the frustration of consumers who want practical results rather than repeated explanations for inadequate electricity.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority for the Federal Government and electricity operators is to address the operational and generation constraints identified by the Ministry of Power and NISO.
The ministry has said it is engaging relevant institutions to accelerate maintenance and restore supply, but it has not announced a specific nationwide deadline for a full return to normal electricity delivery.
Consumers will also expect clearer communication about the causes of disruptions in their respective locations, the expected duration of maintenance activities and the measures being taken to prevent repeated outages.
For now, the concerns raised by Kate Henshaw, Spyro and other Nigerians underline the urgency of improving electricity supply.
The central issue is not simply whether officials can explain why electricity generation has declined. It is whether the government and the institutions responsible for the sector can turn those explanations into reliable power for homes, businesses and public institutions.
As Nigeria continues to pursue reforms in its electricity industry, citizens will judge progress by the quality, affordability and consistency of the electricity they receive.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria
- Nigerian Independent System Operator
- Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority
- TheCable
- The Guardian Nigeria
- Punch Newspapers
- Pulse Nigeria
