A nationwide blackout may mar the Yuletide celebrations as gas producers have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, further constraining electricity generation across the country.
The development has already impacted supply in several regions, with electricity distribution companies alerting customers to worsening load shedding caused by gas shortages at generation companies.
On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) notified customers across the South-East of reduced power supply in a statement signed by its Group Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh.
The DisCo attributed the drop in electricity availability to low system frequency triggered by gas constraints affecting generation companies, a situation that has forced the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ration available energy on the national grid.
As a result, EEDC said energy allocation to its network had dropped, reducing daily service levels to customers served by its subsidiary companies — MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra and EastLand.
The statement read, “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC wishes to inform electricity customers across the South-East region that the recent drop in power supply availability is due to low system frequency, occasioned by gas constraints affecting the generation companies. This development has necessitated the load shedding of available energy by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
“As a result, this development has impacted energy allocation to EEDC and the daily service level to customers served by its subsidiary companies, namely MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.
“Efforts are currently being made by critical stakeholders in the electricity supply industry to address this challenge and restore normal power distribution.
EEDC sincerely apologises for the inconvenience this situation has caused its esteemed customers and appreciates their patience and understanding.”
Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company issued a notice to customers, linking the persistent outages in its franchise areas to poor generation and allocation.
“Dear esteemed customer, Kindly be informed that the current load shedding being experienced in all our franchise areas is a result of poor generation and allocation from the generation company and NCC.
“We appeal to our esteemed customers to exercise patience as the GenCo team is working assiduously to improve generation and allocation. All inconveniences are regretted.”
Generation companies have also confirmed that gas supply constraints are disrupting operations.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Joy Ogaji, said gas producers had begun cutting supplies due to outstanding debts owed to them.
The situation mirrors the crisis experienced in the first quarter of 2024, when Nigerians endured prolonged outages after gas suppliers halted deliveries to power plants over unpaid obligations..
Although government intervention later restored supply, producers have complained that gas has continued to be supplied without corresponding payments.
In a bid to avert a repeat of the crisis, the Federal Government announced on December 4, 2025, the approval of N185 billion for the settlement of outstanding debts owed to natural gas suppliers to ease liquidity constraints and boost electricity generation.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed this in a statement issued by his media aide, Louis Ibah, noting that the approval was granted a day earlier by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
However, the reason gas companies are cutting supplies despite the payment approval remains unclear.
Efforts to get a response from the spokesman for the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, Bolaji Tunji, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
With generation still constrained, electricity distribution across many parts of the country remains under pressure, raising fears of sustained outages unless liquidity challenges in the gas-to-power value chain are urgently addressed.
Gas pipeline vandalism
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said electricity generation on the national grid dropped on Tuesday following gas supply disruptions caused by reported vandalism of upstream gas pipelines.
According to the system operator, the incident disrupted gas supply to several gas-fired power plants, forcing multiple thermal stations to operate far below capacity and reducing overall electricity supply nationwide.
NISO said the incident once again highlighted the fragility of Nigeria’s power sector, noting that over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants depend on natural gas for operation.
NISO stated, “The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the general public and sector stakeholders that electricity generation on the National Grid has dropped due to gas supply constraints arising from the reported incident of gas pipeline vandalisation within the upstream gas supply network.”