Nigeria’s electricity crisis may worsen in the coming weeks as gas suppliers halt supply to thermal power plants over an estimated N3.3tn debt owed by power generation companies.
This development could deepen the nationwide power shortage and worsen the already unstable electricity supply across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies, Dr Joy Ogaji, disclosed this during an interview on Fresh FM monitored by our correspondent.
Ogaji warned that the growing debt across the power value chain is pushing the sector toward a major crisis.
According to her, gas suppliers are increasingly unwilling to continue providing gas to thermal power plants because of the huge unpaid debts owed by generation companies.
Her comments come amid worsening electricity supply across Nigeria, with many Nigerians experiencing prolonged blackouts since the beginning of the year.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator shows that electricity generation dropped below 4,000 megawatts in recent weeks. The decline has been largely attributed to gas constraints affecting thermal power plants.
As of Tuesday, the country’s 11 power distribution companies were sharing only 3,053 megawatts, a level far below the amount required to ensure stable electricity supply nationwide.
The situation has made reliable power supply almost impossible across their franchise areas.
Electricity consumers, regardless of the supply bands they belong to, have continued to lament the situation. Many households and businesses say they are struggling to cope with persistent outages.
The complaints have intensified as Nigerians face rising fuel prices and extreme heat, forcing many to depend on costly alternative power sources such as generators.
Industry stakeholders warn that unless the debt crisis in the power sector is addressed urgently, electricity shortages could worsen in the coming weeks.
