Power Generation Drops as Gas Pipeline Vandalisation Affects National Grid
- Electricity generation on Nigeria’s national grid has declined due to gas supply constraints linked to pipeline vandalism
- NISO said the incident affected gas availability to several power generation facilities, forcing it to activate contingency measures to stabilise the grid
- The incident follows a reported explosion on the Escravos–Lagos gas pipeline operated by an NNPC subsidiary
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Oluwatobi Odeyinka is a business editor at Legit.ng, covering energy, the money market, technology and macroeconomic trends in Nigeria.
Electricity generation on Nigeria’s national grid has dropped following gas supply constraints caused by a reported vandalism of a gas pipeline in the upstream supply network.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the incident disrupted gas supply to several power generation facilities across the country, The Cable reported.
According to NISO, the disruption affected the availability of gas to a number of power plants, leading to reduced output from several gas-fired stations and, consequently, a decline in overall generation capacity on the national grid.
Source: Getty Images
The operator stated that it swiftly implemented pre-approved contingency plans to safeguard the stability and dependability of the power system.
According to the statement, the response measures involved ramping up electricity output from available hydropower plants, ongoing adjustments to generation dispatch, voltage regulation actions and other operational steps designed to keep supply and demand in balance.
NISO explained that it is actively tracking grid performance indicators, such as system frequency and voltage, while engaging with key stakeholders to lessen the effects of the gas supply disruption.
It added that the incident highlights the importance of improved coordination in managing gas supply challenges, particularly with the festive period approaching, a time that typically poses heightened risks for grid operations.
NISO also assured the public of its dedication to forward-looking grid management and full compliance with operational guidelines to deliver a stable, secure and reliable electricity supply across the country.
The situation follows a recent disclosure by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited of an explosion on its Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline on December 12, operated by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), Premium Times reported.
Source: Getty Images
Nigeria ranks high in poor electricity access
Apart from the frequent vandalisation of pipelines, such issues as poor investments, debt, and technical challenges have caused a setback to Nigeria's electrification plan.
A report in May 2025 revealed that more than 90million of Nigeria's 230million people live without access to electricity, the highest number in any country. This represents around 40-45% of the country's population.
Legit.ng reported that some African countries, such as Kenya, Gabon, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal, among others, are far ahead of Nigeria in electricity access level.
Reports show that these countries have effectively reached universal or near-universal electricity access, often after decades of sustained planning and state-led investment.
Experts identify Nigeria's electricity problem
Legit.ng earlier reported that engineers have attributed Nigeria's electricity crisis to political interference and the government's failure to appoint qualified professionals.
The engineers under the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN) stressed that political loyalty over competence has hindered sector progress and called for a state of emergency to address power challenges.
CIPEN, however, advocated for cost-reflective tariffs, while emphasising the need for public and media support to achieve a sustainable power supply.
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Source: Legit.ng
