The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the widespread electricity outages experienced in the past month, admitting the situation has caused serious hardship across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister acknowledged the impact of the blackout on homes, businesses, schools and industries, especially as the intense dry-season heat has increased demand for electricity.
“I want to apologise to Nigerians for this temporary issue that is causing hardship, particularly during this period of extreme heat,” he said. “It is not our wish to be in this situation, but some of the factors are beyond our control.”
Adelabu, however, assured Nigerians that the situation is being addressed and that noticeable improvements should begin within two weeks. According to him, ongoing repairs to critical gas pipelines and renewed commitments from gas suppliers are expected to restore supply to power plants.
He explained that the government has set up a special committee to monitor gas companies and ensure they meet their obligations to supply gas for electricity generation. Improved payment systems are also being introduced to encourage consistent supply.
The minister noted that disruptions in gas supply, alongside maintenance challenges and funding issues, have contributed significantly to the current crisis. Despite this, he insisted that efforts are ongoing round the clock to stabilise the sector.
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Adelabu also reiterated the government’s broader goal of increasing electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current outage as a temporary setback.
“We are not just looking to recover; we want to do better than before,” he said, expressing confidence that the power sector will return to a steady improvement path.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has long faced challenges such as inadequate gas supply, ageing infrastructure, and transmission constraints, all of which continue to affect stable power delivery.
