By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians experiencing electricity disruptions in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo States that efforts are being intensified to restore normal power supply.
The Federal Ministry of Power gave the assurance while acknowledging the recent decline in electricity supply, particularly in areas that had recorded improvements in power availability in recent weeks.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Adelabu, said the disruptions were linked to maintenance and operational challenges within the power sector, as well as reduced electricity generation.
It identified inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants, resulting from lower water inflows into reservoirs, as major factors contributing to the decline.
The Ministry, however, stressed that preliminary assessments showed no evidence of a major or systemic failure of the national grid.
It said the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was engaging the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to address the operational challenges and ensure speedy restoration.
According to the statement, Tegbe has directed efforts towards resolving the constraints, accelerating ongoing maintenance activities and keeping electricity consumers informed about developments.
The Ministry acknowledged the difficulties faced by households, businesses and public institutions as a result of the disruptions, noting that it did not take the impact of prolonged power outages lightly.
It reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining improvements in the power sector and enhancing the reliability and quality of electricity supply across the country.
The Ministry also appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and understanding, promising to provide further updates as restoration efforts progress.
