Nigeria’s electricity supply is expected to improve within 24 to 48 hours after a sharp drop caused by gas pipeline damage, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu said.
The disruption followed an explosion on the Escravos–Lagos Gas Pipeline, alongside vandalism of gas facilities in the Niger Delta. The incidents reduced gas supply to major thermal power plants and cut electricity output nationwide.
Here are the key facts behind the outage and the government’s response:
1. What caused the power drop
The National Independent System Operator (NISO) said the pipeline explosion led to a significant fall in power generation. Several gas-fired plants reduced output due to limited gas supply.
Nigeria relies heavily on gas-powered plants to supply electricity to the national grid. Any disruption to gas flow quickly affects homes and businesses.
2. Repair work and restoration timeline
NISO said repair works are being handled by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company, a subsidiary of NNPC. The operator confirmed that repairs are close to completion.
Both NISO and the Ministry of Power said full gas supply should resume within 24 to 48 hours. This would allow power generation to return gradually to normal levels.
3. Minister acknowledges public hardship
Adelabu said households and businesses are facing real hardship from the outage. He described the situation as temporary and linked directly to gas supply shortages.
“We understand the frustration this has caused Nigerians,” Adelabu said. “The government is working round the clock to restore power as quickly as possible.”
4. Emergency meeting during peak demand
The minister gave the assurance after meeting key power sector players on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Participants included NISO, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, generation firms, and distribution companies.
With electricity demand rising during the Christmas period, Adelabu directed agencies to meet the repair deadline without delay.
5. Vandalism remains a major risk
Preliminary findings showed that vandalism worsened the impact of the pipeline explosion. Reduced gas volumes left key plants unable to meet demand.
Adelabu urged communities to help protect national infrastructure. He called on citizens to report suspicious activity around power and gas facilities.
6. Longer-term solutions promised
Beyond emergency repairs, the government said it is accelerating long-term reforms. These include diversifying energy sources, strengthening the grid, and using surveillance technology to protect infrastructure. Adelabu reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to stable and reliable electricity for economic growth.
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