By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has announced a rise in electricity generation from 3,951 megawatts to 4,300 megawatts, signalling what it described as a gradual recovery in the power sector.
The disclosure was made on Sunday, 12 April, 2026 in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
He said the improvement recorded between March 28 and April 10 aligns with earlier assurances by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, at the Power Sector Working Group that supply would improve within two weeks.
Tunji explained that the increase in output coincided with a steady rise in gas supply to thermal plants, which climbed from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day to over 704 mmscfd within the same period.
Similarly, he noted that mechanical availability remained stable, peaking at over 7,796MW in early April, while operational availability rose from about 4,208MW to more than 4,694MW, reflecting improved efficiency in converting gas to electricity.
“Despite minor fluctuations recorded on some days, the overall trajectory points to a gradual recovery in the power sector, driven largely by improved gas supply and better coordination among critical stakeholders,” he said.
Furthermore, Tunji stressed that the strong correlation between gas availability and generation output underscores the need for sustained intervention in the gas-to-power value chain, given the country’s reliance on thermal plants.
To consolidate the gains, he said the minister has inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee to strengthen coordination, enable real-time monitoring and ensure sustained gas supply to generation companies.
“The committee is expected to address bottlenecks in gas delivery, enhance synergy between gas producers and power generation companies, and ultimately guarantee a more stable and reliable electricity supply across the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, he reaffirmed the minister’s commitment to sustaining the progress, assuring Nigerians that ongoing reforms would continue to yield measurable improvements.
“We are not there yet, but we will continue to ensure measurable improvements,” he added.
In a related development, the minister charged the new management of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency to boost its Internally Generated Revenue and reduce dependence on government funding.
Adelabu gave the directive during a visit by the agency’s Managing Director, Olusegun Adesayo, and Board Chairman, Ikechi Nwosu, urging them to expand revenue streams and improve operational efficiency.
He also called for the establishment of additional meter testing centres nationwide to strengthen service delivery.
“I have no doubt about your ability, and I can also say that with your appointment by the president, you will do well. The President knows what he is doing by appointing you, and any appointee of the president will have my full cooperation,” he said.
However, the minister decried the shortage of manpower, particularly meter installers, and urged closer collaboration between the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria and NEMSA to bridge the gap.
“We need to ensure more installers are trained in order to accelerate the government’s plan to bridge the meter gap in the country,” he said.
Additionally, he directed the agency’s leadership to conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify operational challenges, even as he assured that the full board would be inaugurated soon.
Earlier, Adesayo said he had begun engagements with relevant agencies to secure their support, while outlining areas where the ministry’s intervention would be required to enhance effective service delivery.
