Power output rises to 4300 megawatts, up from 3951 megawatts, says Federal Government

The Federal Government has reported an increase in electricity generation, from 3,951 MW to 4,300 MW, between March 28 and April 10, according to a statement released by Mr Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media Relations in Abuja.

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This development aligns with the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu's, assurance at the Power Sector Working Group, where he pledged that electricity supply would improve within two weeks, with the gradual rise in generation output mirroring the steady increase in gas supply to thermal power plants.

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Gas supply to thermal power plants rose from approximately 605 million standard cubic feet (mmscfd) to over 704 mmscfd within the same timeframe, closely aligning with the improvement in electricity generation, as explained by Tunji.

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Moreover, mechanical availability remained stable, peaking at over 7,796 megawatts (MW) in early April, while operational availability increased from about 4,208MW to a peak of over 4,694MW, indicating enhanced efficiency in converting available gas into electricity.

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Tunji noted that despite minor fluctuations recorded on some days, the overall trajectory points to a gradual recovery in the power sector, driven largely by improved gas supply and better coordination among critical stakeholders.

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The strong correlation between gas availability and generation output underscores the importance of sustained interventions in the gas-to-power value chain, given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on thermal power plants, as stated by Tunji.

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To consolidate the gains recorded so far, the minister recently inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee to ensure improved coordination, real-time monitoring, and sustained gas supply to generating companies.

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The committee is expected to address bottlenecks in gas delivery, enhance synergy between gas producers and power generation companies, and ultimately guarantee a more stable and reliable electricity supply across the country, according to Tunji.

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The minister remains committed to ensuring that the modest gains recorded are not only sustained but significantly improved upon in the coming weeks, as stated by Tunji.

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Tunji assured Nigerians that ongoing reforms and targeted interventions in the sector would continue to yield measurable improvements in power generation and supply, in line with the administration’s broader objective of stabilising the nation’s electricity sector.

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He also said that the minister urged the new management of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to focus on improving its internally generated revenue (IGR) and reducing dependence on appropriation, especially in funding their operational cost.

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Adelabu spoke during the visit of the newly appointed Managing Director of the agency, Mr Olusegun Adesayo, and the chairman of the Board, Ikechi Nwosu, to his office at the weekend, where he expressed confidence in the new management.

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He assured them that the full board would be inaugurated soon, saying, “I have no doubt about your ability, and I can also say that with your appointment by the president, you will do well.

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The minister called for collaboration between the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) and NEMSA to tackle the issue of manpower, especially meter installers, decrying the dearth of manpower in the sector.

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At meter testing stations, he said that there should be a plan towards having them in each of the geopolitical zones, and urged Adesayo to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the agency and list the challenges in order to know where to start from.

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Earlier, the managing director informed the minister of his visit to the other agencies to get their support, and spoke on the required support from the ministry in order to ensure the successful discharge of the agency’s responsibilities.