By Gee Onyedinma
Nigerians across the country are groaning under worsening electricity supply marked by prolonged outages, midnight blackouts, and weak voltage, as declining power generation continues to cripple homes and businesses nationwide. The crisis has been linked to inadequate gas supply to thermal power plants, which account for the bulk of the nation’s electricity production.
Power sector authorities, in a notice issued on February 27, 2026, disclosed that available generation has dropped to about 4,300 megawatts due to severe gas supply shortages. According to the notice by the Nigerian Independent System Operators, NISO, thermal plants require approximately 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate optimally but currently receive only about 692 million, representing less than 43 per cent of the required supply. The shortfall has forced the implementation of load shedding across the national grid, resulting in reduced electricity allocation to Distribution Companies and widespread outages across Nigeria.
The impact has been particularly severe in residential communities, where residents say electricity is often cut off at midnight without warning. A resident of Awe Street, in Lagos who expressed frustration over the development, said, “Just when people are enjoying sleep or working on projects, that’s exactly when power is taken. We really do not understand this new culture. Sometimes we wait over one hour before electricity is restored.”
Residents warned that the midnight outages have exposed communities to increased security risks. “That is the time criminals vandalise transformers, cars, and other properties. Switching off the light at such odd hours is not proper and only invites criminal activities. Authorities must address this urgently,” another resident said.
Beyond the outages, Nigerians also lamented the poor voltage supplied when electricity is restored, saying it is often too weak to power basic household appliances. “Even when the light comes, it cannot carry pumping machines or refrigerators. Our food is spoiling, and we are losing money. Combined with the intense heat, people cannot sleep at night. This is becoming unbearable,” a resident of Adeyeri Crescent, in Lagos, said.
Across the country, Nigerians are complaining that the deteriorating electricity supply has worsened living conditions and increased hardship nationwide, while urging electricity distribution companies and relevant authorities to urgently restore a stable and reliable supply.
Power authorities, however, said efforts are ongoing to improve gas supply to thermal plants and assured consumers that electricity generation and allocation would improve once gas availability increases. The authorities, however, failed to provide a timeline on when the electricity supply will be fully normalised.