Nigeria’s electricity generation has climbed from 3,951 megawatts to 4,300 megawatts within two weeks, marking a modest but significant improvement in the country’s struggling power sector.
The Federal Government attributed the rise, recorded between March 28 and April 10, to improved gas supply and better coordination across key energy stakeholders, signalling early signs of recovery in electricity production.
The update was disclosed in Abuja on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, who said the progress aligns with earlier assurances of improved supply within the period.
A major driver of the increase was a steady boost in gas supply to thermal power plants, which rose from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day to over 704 million within the reporting window. Officials say this improvement has had a direct impact on generation output.
While generation increased, system performance indicators also showed stronger fundamentals. Mechanical availability reportedly peaked at over 7,796MW in early April, while operational availability rose from about 4,208MW to a high of over 4,694MW, reflecting improved efficiency in converting gas into usable electricity.
Despite fluctuations across some days, the government maintained that the overall trend points to a gradual recovery in the power sector. Authorities stressed that stable gas supply remains central to sustaining any long-term improvement.
To strengthen coordination, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee. The body is expected to track gas supply in real time, address bottlenecks in delivery, and improve collaboration between gas producers and electricity generation companies.
Officials say the initiative is aimed at ensuring more stable electricity supply nationwide, as Nigeria continues to depend heavily on gas-fired thermal plants for power generation.
The minister reaffirmed that ongoing reforms would continue to deliver incremental gains, while cautioning that the sector is still far from its desired stability. “We are not there yet, but we will continue to ensure measurable improvements,” he said.
Beyond generation figures, Adelabu also addressed institutional reforms within the power sector during a separate engagement with the new leadership of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
He urged the agency to strengthen its internally generated revenue, reduce reliance on federal funding, and expand its operational reach through more meter testing centres across the country.
The minister also raised concerns about manpower shortages in the electricity sector, particularly among meter installers, calling for stronger collaboration with training institutions to bridge the gap.
He further stressed the need for nationwide expansion of technical infrastructure, including meter testing facilities across all geopolitical zones, as part of efforts to improve electricity metering and accountability.
Authorities say the combination of improved gas supply, institutional reforms, and technical capacity building is central to sustaining the current upward trend in power generation.
