The upstream segment of Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) recorded severe underperformance in March 2026, with only 30 per cent of installed generation capacity available for electricity dispatch, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The commission’s March 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet revealed that out of a total installed capacity of 13,625MW across generation companies (GenCos), only 4,089MW was available for sending out energy during the review period. This means about 70 per cent of installed capacity remained idle.
NERC described the situation as an acute downtime in the generation segment of the power sector, highlighting ongoing structural and operational challenges affecting electricity supply in Nigeria.
The report stated: “Plant Availability Factor (PAF): 30%, showing that an average of 4,089 MW was available for dispatch out of 13,625 MW installed capacity.”
Despite the low availability, the distribution companies (DisCos) utilised a significant portion of what was available. The report showed that about 3,815MWh/h was consumed, representing 93 per cent utilisation of available generation capacity.
“Average Load Factor: 93%, showing that 3,815 MWh/h of available capacity was utilised,” NERC noted.
The regulator explained that while available power was efficiently utilised by DisCos, the major bottleneck remains in generation availability rather than demand or distribution inefficiency.
NERC also identified top-performing power plants during the period, including Ihovbor_2, Kainji_1, and Jebba_1, which recorded relatively strong availability and output compared to other facilities.
The findings underscore persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, including maintenance constraints, gas supply issues, and ageing infrastructure, all of which continue to limit effective power delivery despite significant installed capacity.
Analysts say improving plant availability remains critical to closing Nigeria’s widening electricity supply gap and ensuring more stable power delivery across the country.
