The Federal Government has issued an apology to Nigerians over the persistent power outages across the country, while assuring citizens that improvements in electricity supply will be seen in the coming days.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press conference reviewing his performance over the past three years.
He acknowledged the hardship caused by the situation, particularly during the intense heat of the dry season.
According to the minister, the outages have disrupted economic and social activities nationwide, affecting businesses, schools, and industries.
He described the situation as regrettable, noting that the government did not intend for Nigerians to endure such difficulties.
Adelabu attributed the crisis largely to a shortage in gas supply to power generation companies.
He explained that the problem is linked to significant debts owed to gas suppliers, which has constrained supply to power plants.
He further warned that ongoing tensions in the Middle East could compound the challenge.
Nigeria’s power sector relies heavily on gas-fired plants, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Issues such as pipeline maintenance, ageing infrastructure, and financial constraints within the sector have continued to limit electricity generation and distribution.
“These challenges affect both the quantity and reliability of gas delivered to power plants,” the minister noted, adding that this has led to reduced generation capacity and increased outages across the grid.
As part of efforts to address the problem, Adelabu highlighted the need to expand renewable energy solutions, particularly off-grid and mini-grid systems.
He said such alternatives would help improve access to electricity without placing additional pressure on the national grid.
He also advocated for the integration of renewable sources such as solar and hydro power into the energy mix, stressing that diversification would enhance energy security and reduce dependence on gas.
The minister noted that achieving this transition would require investments in grid infrastructure, monitoring systems, and better planning to ensure stability despite the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources.
Beyond the power sector, Adelabu declined to confirm speculation about his possible bid for the Oyo State governorship in 2027.
With a directive from Bola Tinubu requiring political appointees with ambitions to resign before the end of March, the minister stated that he still has time to decide his next move, maintaining that his priority remains public service at any level.
