NNPC Disputes Power Minister’s Explanation for Electricity Shortfall

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has rejected claims that operational constraints in its gas transportation network contributed to the recent decline in electricity generation across the country.

The company said the network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remained available to support gas deliveries to power-generating stations nationwide.

Its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that operational records showed no transportation-related constraints capable of explaining the reduction in power generation.

The clarification followed an earlier position by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which attributed the decline partly to limited gas availability and reduced water inflows into hydroelectric power stations.

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe had also identified gas supply constraints, alongside planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and damage to transmission infrastructure, as factors contributing to prolonged outages in parts of the country.

However, NNPC said the availability of its transportation infrastructure should be distinguished from gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants.

The company disclosed that gas production volumes had increased by approximately 10 per cent in 2026, year-to-date, as part of efforts to implement the Federal Government's gas development and monetisation agenda.

It maintained that determining the causes of reduced electricity generation required a broader assessment of the entire gas-to-power value chain.

According to the company, such an assessment should examine the operational readiness of generating units, maintenance schedules and actual gas offtake by power stations, as these factors determine whether available gas can be converted into electricity.

NNPC called for a coordinated review involving gas suppliers, transporters, power generators and NISO to identify the specific constraints affecting electricity generation and establish appropriate solutions.

Meanwhile, Tegbe said electricity supply to Abuja, Lagos, Kwara and Oyo states was expected to improve as affected generating units returned to service in phases.

He said the first units were expected to resume operations within 48 to 72 hours, while efforts were ongoing to improve gas supply and repair damaged infrastructure.

In a separate development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) rejected claims by Ikeja Electric that grid instability was responsible for several outages affecting its Band A feeders.

TCN described the attribution as inaccurate, arguing that the determination of the causes of disturbances and interruptions on the national grid fell within the statutory responsibilities of NISO.

The transmission company said records of interruptions on November 1 and 2 showed that 68 per cent resulted from frequency-control load shedding caused by low generation, while 26 per cent were linked to issues involving Ikeja Electric's network and compliance with allocated loads.

The remaining six per cent, it said, resulted from TCN's planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations.

TCN maintained that the electricity shortfall experienced by distribution companies was largely a consequence of reduced generation and the resulting lower energy allocations, rather than failures in its transmission equipment.