Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has formally expressed regret to citizens regarding the persistent and widespread electricity interruptions experienced across the country in recent weeks, admitting that the situation has placed significant pressure on families, businesses, and critical sectors of the national economy. While addressing journalists during a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister acknowledged that the continuous blackout has made daily living more difficult, especially as the country faces extreme dry-season temperatures. The minister stated that he was offering an official apology on behalf of the Federal Government, noting that the temporary disruption has resulted in hardship for many Nigerians, particularly during the period of intense heat being felt nationwide. He explained that the outages have affected several areas of national life, including commercial activities, educational institutions, and industrial operations. According to him, the government did not intentionally allow the situation to occur, but certain circumstances beyond its direct control contributed to the current power shortage. Despite the ongoing difficulties, the minister assured the public that steps have already been taken to correct the problem and that improvement in electricity supply is expected soon. He revealed that a special committee has been created to address the challenges affecting generation and gas supply, adding that commitments have been received from gas suppliers to support restoration efforts. He further explained that repairs on damaged gas pipelines are currently in progress, and projections indicate that noticeable improvement in power availability should begin within about two weeks once the work is completed. The minister also mentioned that authorities already have a clear schedule for the completion of important repair works, including those involving facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are expected to help restore adequate gas supply to power-generating stations. According to him, the government has set up a monitoring committee to ensure that gas-producing companies meet their domestic supply obligations, since failure to supply sufficient gas has been one of the major reasons electricity generation has remained below expected levels. He added that better payment arrangements are also being introduced to encourage gas suppliers to deliver more fuel to generating companies, which will in turn improve overall electricity output. Nigeria’s power sector depends largely on gas-fired plants, and the minister noted that interruptions in gas supply, maintenance of pipelines, and financial difficulties within the sector have all contributed to the present challenges being experienced nationwide. He admitted that these structural problems have affected stability in the electricity grid, but assured that government agencies and operators are working continuously to restore normal supply and strengthen the system. The minister stressed that efforts are ongoing around the clock to return the sector to the level of performance recorded in 2025, when the government received commendation from citizens for improved electricity delivery. He also restated the Federal Government’s objective of increasing national electricity generation to about 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current situation as only a temporary setback in the wider reform programme being implemented in the power sector. According to him, improvements are expected across generation, transmission, and distribution, and the government remains confident that the planned output target will be achieved, leading to better service for Nigerians. The minister concluded by saying that the administration is not only determined to restore previous performance but also to exceed earlier achievements, adding that if the country was able to deliver better electricity supply in the past year, then even greater results should be possible in the current year.
