By Stella Odueme
The Federal Ministry of Power has acknowledged the recent disruptions in electricity supply across parts of the country, particularly Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo States, assuring Nigerians that efforts are underway to restore normal supply.
The Ministry said the affected areas had experienced noticeable improvements in electricity supply before the recent decline, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to households, businesses and public institutions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Adeola Adelabu, the Ministry attributed the disruptions to maintenance and operational challenges within parts of the power sector, alongside a decline in electricity generation.
It explained that the drop in generation was caused by constraints in gas supply to thermal power plants and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower water inflows into reservoirs.
The Ministry, however, clarified that preliminary assessments had not indicated any major or systemic failure of the national grid.
It disclosed that the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to address the challenges and accelerate the restoration of supply.
According to the statement, the minister has engaged the relevant operators to resolve operational constraints, fast-track ongoing maintenance and ensure that Nigerians receive timely updates on the situation.
The Ministry reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to improving electricity supply reliability and sustaining the progress recorded in the power sector.
It also appealed for public patience and understanding, assuring consumers that further updates would be provided as restoration efforts progress.