The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the ongoing electricity blackout affecting homes, businesses, and industries across the country.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister admitted that the situation has caused serious hardship, especially as the country experiences high temperatures during the dry season.
“I want to apologize 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,” Adelabu said.
Across Nigeria, many households have been left without stable electricity supply for days or even weeks. The blackout has disrupted daily life, with many people forced to rely on expensive alternatives such as petrol and diesel generators.
Adelabu acknowledged that the power crisis has affected several parts of the economy. He said businesses, schools, and industries are all struggling to cope with the unreliable electricity supply.
“Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation,” he said.
In major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, residents have complained of long hours without power. Small business owners, especially those in food storage, welding, hairdressing, and printing, say their operating costs have increased sharply.
Many Nigerians now spend a large part of their income on fuel to keep generators running. For low-income households, this has made daily living even more difficult.
The blackout has also affected students preparing for exams, as well as hospitals that depend on steady electricity for critical services.
The minister explained that the current power outage is linked to problems in gas supply, which is a key part of Nigeria’s electricity generation system.
Nigeria depends heavily on gas-fired power plants to generate electricity. When gas supply is disrupted, power generation drops significantly.
Adelabu said the current situation is due to issues such as pipeline maintenance, supply shortfalls, and other technical challenges that are beyond the immediate control of the government.
Despite these challenges, he assured Nigerians that steps are being taken to fix the problem.
“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.
The minister gave a timeline for when Nigerians should begin to see improvement in electricity supply.
According to him, repairs on key gas infrastructure are already underway, and gas producers have made commitments to increase supply to power plants.
“I can tell you, 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,” Adelabu said.
He also mentioned that facilities operated by Seplat Energy are expected to play an important role in restoring gas supply once repairs are completed.
The government has set up a special committee to monitor gas supply to power plants and ensure that companies meet their obligations.
According to Adelabu, one of the long-standing problems in the power sector is that gas producers sometimes fail to meet domestic supply commitments, preferring to sell to more profitable export markets.
To address this, the government is working on improving payment systems and enforcement measures to ensure that more gas is made available for local electricity generation.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has faced many challenges over the years. These include poor infrastructure, limited generation capacity, weak transmission networks, and financial issues affecting power companies.
Since the privatization of the power sector in 2013, several reforms have been introduced, but progress has been slow. Many Nigerians still experience frequent blackouts despite paying for electricity.
Transmission problems also play a role, as the national grid sometimes struggles to carry available power to different parts of the country.
Distribution companies, known as DisCos, have also faced criticism for poor service delivery, estimated billing, and lack of investment in infrastructure.
Despite the current challenges, Adelabu said the Federal Government remains committed to improving power supply across the country.
He reaffirmed the government’s target to increase electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026.
“Power generation will improve, transmission will improve, distribution will improve, and that 6,000 megawatts will be achieved before the end of this year,” he said.
Nigeria currently generates far less than what is needed for its population of over 200 million people. Experts say the country requires at least 20,000 megawatts to meet its basic electricity needs.
The minister described the current blackout as a temporary setback and assured Nigerians that efforts are being made to not only restore supply but also improve it beyond previous levels.
“If we could provide such service in 2025, this is 2026, we are willing to do more, to even do better,” he added.
Many Nigerians have reacted to the minister’s apology with mixed feelings. While some appreciate the acknowledgement of the problem, others remain sceptical about the promised improvements.
For many citizens, similar assurances have been made in the past without lasting results.
However, energy experts say that if the issues with gas supply are resolved quickly, there could indeed be a short-term improvement in electricity supply.
They also stress the need for long-term solutions, including investment in renewable energy, better maintenance of infrastructure, and stronger regulation of the sector.
As the two-week timeline given by the minister approaches, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if there is a real improvement in power supply.
The current situation has once again highlighted the importance of stable electricity to national development. Without reliable power, businesses struggle, jobs are affected, and economic growth slows down.
For now, the government says it is working around the clock to fix the problem. Whether these efforts will bring lasting change remains to be seen.
But for millions of Nigerians dealing with heat, darkness and rising costs, the hope is simple — a return to steady and reliable electricity as soon as possible.