Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has revealed that approximately 68 per cent of Nigeria’s installed power generation capacity remained idle in February, underscoring persistent structural challenges in electricity supply.
According to a NERC factsheet, Nigeria’s grid-connected power plants have a combined installed capacity of 13,625 megawatts (MW). However, only 4,384MW was available for dispatch to the national grid during the month, representing a Plant Availability Factor (PAF) of 32 per cent. This means that roughly 9,241MW, or 68 per cent of installed capacity, was unavailable for electricity distribution.
The data, covering 28 grid-connected generation plants, highlights the substantial gap between Nigeria’s theoretical generation capacity and the power actually delivered to homes and businesses. NERC noted that the 4,384MW available in February reflected an 11 per cent decline compared with January 2026, indicating worsening operational constraints at several power stations.
Despite limited capacity, most operational plants were reportedly running near their maximum available output, reflecting efforts to maximise electricity supply under challenging conditions. The report underscores the need for targeted interventions to address systemic inefficiencies and improve power availability for consumers and industries.
