Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that electricity supply is expected to begin improving within 48 to 72 hours as the Federal Government works to restore affected generating units and address operational challenges responsible for recent power shortages across parts of the country.
The assurance comes amid growing concerns over reduced electricity supply in several areas, including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states, where households, businesses and public institutions have experienced disruptions in recent days.
Tegbe said the government was working with relevant electricity sector operators to resolve the problems affecting power generation and restore supply in phases.
The minister’s assurance offers some relief to electricity consumers who have faced difficulties maintaining normal household and business activities because of the recent outages. However, the 48-to-72-hour timeline should not be interpreted as a guarantee that electricity will return to normal across the entire country within that period.
Government Moves to Restore Affected Generating Units
The minister’s intervention follows a decline in electricity generation linked to operational difficulties within Nigeria’s power sector.
According to reports on the minister’s November 6 update, the government is working to return affected generating units to service in phases, with the first units expected to come back online within 48 to 72 hours.
The restoration process is expected to involve coordination between the ministry and operators responsible for electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
The government is also working to address constraints affecting gas supplies to thermal power stations and maintenance activities that have reduced available electricity on the national grid.
These challenges have contributed to the electricity shortfall affecting consumers in different parts of the country.
Egbin Power Station Maintenance Contributes to Electricity Shortage
One of the major factors identified behind the reduced electricity supply is planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station in Lagos State.
Egbin is Nigeria’s largest thermal electricity generating station and contributes a significant share of the electricity supplied to the national grid. According to the minister’s statement, the facility accounts for approximately 16 per cent of the country’s total grid electricity supply.
The maintenance work has reduced the amount of electricity available for distribution, adding pressure to an already constrained power system.
Gas supply difficulties at other thermal generating stations have further affected electricity generation.
Nigeria relies heavily on gas-fired power stations to generate electricity. Consequently, disruptions in gas supply can quickly affect the quantity of electricity available to homes, commercial establishments and industries.
The minister said the government was working with operators to improve gas availability and return affected generating units to operation.
Transmission Line Sabotage Adds to Power Supply Challenges
Beyond generation difficulties, Tegbe identified damage to critical transmission infrastructure as another factor affecting electricity distribution.
According to the minister, sabotage involving important transmission lines has restricted the availability of alternative routes for delivering electricity to some locations, particularly Lagos.
Transmission infrastructure plays an essential role in moving electricity from generating stations to distribution networks.
When transmission lines are damaged or unavailable, electricity operators may have fewer options for redirecting available power to affected areas.
The situation becomes more difficult when electricity generation is already below demand.
The minister said the government was accelerating repairs to damaged infrastructure as part of its response to the current situation.
TCN and Ikeja Electric Disagree Over Causes of Outages
The recent electricity disruptions have also exposed disagreements among operators within Nigeria’s power sector.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) challenged an explanation provided by Ikeja Electric concerning outages recorded on November 3 and 4.
Ikeja Electric had attributed the interruptions to grid instability. However, TCN rejected that explanation, arguing that inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced hydroelectric generation were responsible for the decline in electricity available for distribution.
TCN maintained that its responsibility is to transmit electricity generated by power stations and that it cannot deliver electricity that has not been produced.
The transmission company also said the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) had not identified a failure of its transmission network as the cause of the outages.
According to TCN, approximately 68 per cent of interruptions recorded on feeders supplying Ikeja Electric resulted from frequency-control load shedding associated with low electricity generation.
The company attributed another 26 per cent to what it described as Ikeja Electric’s failure to comply with allocated electricity supply levels, alongside faults and maintenance activities on the distribution network.
The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, resulted from its own planned maintenance, switching operations and transmission line limitations.
The disagreement highlights the complicated relationship between electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Nigeria.
Although these functions are interconnected, each part of the electricity value chain has different operational responsibilities. Difficulties in one area can affect the performance of the entire system.
The disagreement also underscores the importance of transparent communication between electricity operators, particularly when consumers are experiencing prolonged outages.
What Is Load Shedding and Why Does It Affect Consumers?
One of the measures identified in the minister’s explanation is load shedding.
Load shedding occurs when electricity operators temporarily reduce or interrupt electricity supply in certain areas because available generation cannot meet demand.
It is generally used to balance electricity supply and consumption and prevent further instability in the electricity system.
When generation falls below the amount required by consumers, operators may have to distribute the available electricity through controlled reductions in supply.
For households, this can mean longer periods without electricity. Businesses that depend on consistent power may also experience increased operating costs because of their reliance on generators and alternative energy sources.
The recent situation demonstrates how maintenance at a major generating station, inadequate gas supply and transmission infrastructure problems can combine to create widespread electricity shortages.
Why the 72-Hour Assurance Matters to Nigerians
The minister’s announcement is significant because electricity remains essential to Nigeria’s economic and social activities.
Households depend on reliable electricity for lighting, refrigeration, communication and other daily activities.
Small businesses, manufacturing companies, hospitals, educational institutions and commercial establishments also require consistent power to operate effectively.
When electricity supply becomes unreliable, businesses may spend more money on diesel, petrol and other alternative energy sources.
For small enterprises operating with limited financial resources, prolonged outages can reduce productivity, increase expenses and affect profitability.
Nigeria’s electricity challenges also have wider implications for investment and industrial development.
Manufacturers and investors require dependable electricity infrastructure to maintain production, control operating costs and compete effectively.
However, the minister’s 48-to-72-hour assurance concerns the return of the first affected generating units, not necessarily the complete restoration of electricity supply nationwide.
This distinction is important because improvements in generation do not automatically resolve every transmission or distribution challenge.
Even when additional electricity becomes available on the national grid, consumers may continue experiencing supply interruptions in areas affected by damaged infrastructure, distribution network limitations or other operational problems.
Tegbe’s Appointment and the Government’s Power Sector Priorities
Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe became Nigeria’s Minister of Power in June 2026 after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated him to replace Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to pursue elective political ambitions.
The State House confirmed that Tegbe was sworn into office on June 8, 2026, following his confirmation by the Senate.
Before his appointment, Tegbe worked in the public and private sectors, including as a senior partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa.
His appointment came amid continuing efforts by the Federal Government to address longstanding problems affecting electricity generation, transmission, distribution and investment in the power sector.
In July 2026, the Federal Ministry of Power announced plans to strengthen national grid stability through additional investment and a technical working committee focused on addressing transmission bottlenecks, ageing infrastructure and recurring grid disruptions.
The ministry identified grid stability as an important foundation for improving electricity delivery across the country.
These priorities indicate that the government’s electricity reform agenda involves more than temporarily increasing generation. It also requires improvements in infrastructure, operational efficiency, sector financing and coordination among electricity operators.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority is to return affected generating units to operation and improve the amount of electricity available on the national grid.
Tegbe said the government was working with relevant operators to restore generating capacity in phases, improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to damaged transmission infrastructure.
The first generating units are expected to return within 48 to 72 hours of the minister’s November 6 announcement.
However, the Federal Government will also need to address the underlying operational challenges if improvements in electricity supply are to be sustained.
Consumers will be watching to see whether the promised restoration translates into more reliable electricity, particularly in areas that have experienced prolonged outages.
The effectiveness of the government’s response will ultimately depend on how quickly generating capacity returns, whether gas supply improves and how efficiently transmission and distribution operators deliver available electricity to customers.
For now, the minister’s announcement provides a timeline for the first phase of restoration, while the wider challenge of achieving stable and reliable electricity across Nigeria remains.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers – Power Supply to Improve in 72 Hours, Minister.
- Okay News – Tegbe Expects First Power Units Back Within 48–72 Hours.
- The State House – President Tinubu Swears in Minister of Power.
- TheCable – Tegbe Directs TCN, NISO and DisCos to Fix Supply Constraints.
- Federal Ministry of Power – Government Plans Investment in Grid Stabilisation.
