POWER supply is set to be fully restored as the repair work by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC) is nearly completed.

“Repair works by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC) are nearing completion, and the affected pipeline is expected to be restored soon,” the Nigeria National Grid confirmed on its X handle on Wednesday.

“This restoration will enable gas-fired power plants to resume normal operations, leading to improved electricity supply across the country.”

In mid-December, the Nigeria National Grid confirmed that generation companies were facing acute gas supply constraints, which would hurt their ability to maintain optimal output and operational frequency.

“GenCos are experiencing gas supply constraints affecting their optimal output and general operational frequency,” the National Grid stated in an X post.

Earlier, Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, had assured Nigerians that electricity supply would be resstored in earnest after the temporary shortfall in power generation, but that is yet to happen.

“The drop in power supply followed an explosion on the Escravos–Lagos Gas Pipeline (ELP), compounded by acts of vandalism on critical gas infrastructure, which disrupted gas supply to several thermal power plants across the country,” he said.

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The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) had also provided a similar assurance.

“The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to inform the general public and power sector stakeholders that it is closely monitoring the ongoing repair work by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the recent Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline (ELP) explosion,” the agency said.

“This explosion caused a significant drop in electricity generation. Recall that, following the explosion, several gas-fired power stations recorded low outputs, reducing available generation capacity on the national grid and resulting in a shortfall in electricity supply to customers.

“NISO is in close contact with the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company and has been assured that restoration work on the vandalised pipeline is nearing completion.”

Grid collapses

Nigerians have since endured darkness, with several households spending hundreds of thousands of naira on petrol and diesel. Though power supply has improved across Nigeria, the major challenge facing the nation is the frequent grid collapses, which have turned excitment into gloom.

In 2024, the national grid suffered collapses 12 times, with the latest incident occuring on December 11. The number represented nine times more than what was seen in 2023. This year, the grid has collapsed 3 times.

Several factors are responsible for the frequent power grid failure in Nigeria, including infrastructure decay, poor maintenance, poor funding and vandalism.  

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recorded 131 cases of infrastructure vandalism in 2025.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Mr  Abdulaziz, disclosed this in his end-of-year message to staff, partners, and stakeholders earlier this month.

“From January to November 2025 alone, the company recorded 131 vandalism incidents across its network. Management is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, security agencies, and community vigilante groups to curb this menace,” he said, adding that TCN would continue sensitisation campaigns and community engagement to safeguard critical infrastructure.

He said this year had presented its unique set of challenges, from evolving regulatory landscapes to the persistent issues of infrastructure vandalisation and liquidity constraints affecting the TCN operations, noting, however, that the agency would overcome the obstacles.

He stressed that vandalism remained a major threat to grid stability, and pledged to continue the agency’s sensitisation programmes.

Electricity Act

Nigeria’s new Electricity Act (EA) 2023 empowers state governments and individuals to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution. With the Act, states can establish and regulate electricity markets to provide power to households, industries and government agencies.

According to the electricity market regulator – the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) – states are now fully responsible for the regulation of their electricity markets.

Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, and Plateau states have keyed into the project, with some having set up eletricity companies.