Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the prolonged and severe electricity outages recorded in recent weeks, acknowledging the hardship the situation has imposed on households and key sectors of the economy.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Adelabu admitted that the persistent blackout has worsened living conditions, particularly amid the intense dry-season heat across the country.
“I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, coming from me as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season, where there is so much heat everywhere,” he said.
The minister noted that businesses, schools, and industries have been significantly affected by the disruptions, stressing that the government did not intend to allow the situation to deteriorate but was confronted by factors beyond its immediate control.
“Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control,” Adelabu stated.
He, however, assured citizens that improvements in electricity supply would begin within two weeks, citing ongoing repairs and renewed commitments from gas suppliers.
“With the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” he said.
Adelabu explained that authorities already have projections for the completion of critical repairs, including facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are expected to restore gas supply to electricity-generating plants.
He disclosed that a dedicated committee has been established to monitor compliance with domestic gas supply obligations to power plants, noting that improved payment structures would encourage suppliers to prioritise the sector.
Nigeria’s electricity industry, which relies heavily on gas-powered plants, has faced recurring setbacks due to supply disruptions, pipeline maintenance challenges, and financial constraints affecting operators.
Despite these systemic issues, the minister emphasised that efforts are ongoing to stabilise the national grid and restore consistent supply.
“We are working on it 24/7 to make sure that we go back to the trajectory of 2025, when Nigerians commended us for a good job well done,” he said.
Adelabu also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s target of increasing electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current crisis as a temporary setback in a broader reform agenda.
“Power generation will improve, transmission will improve, distribution will improve, and that 6,000 megawatts will be achieved before the end of this year, and Nigerians will be better for it,” he assured.
He added that the government aims not only to recover lost ground but to surpass previous performance levels.
“If we could provide such service in 2025, this is 2026, we are willing to do more, to even do better,” Adelabu said.
