…Adelabu said, “I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue causing hardship,
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the prolonged and widespread power outages recorded in recent weeks, admitting the pressure the situation has placed on households and key sectors of the economy.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Adelabu acknowledged that the persistent blackout has worsened living conditions, especially amid the intense dry-season heat.
He said, “I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue causing hardship, particularly during this dry season when temperatures are very high.
“Businesses, schools, and industries have all been affected. It is not our desire to be in this situation, but it is due to factors largely beyond our control.”
Despite the challenges, the minister assured that improvements in power supply are imminent, giving a timeline for recovery.
“I can assure you that with the committee we have established, commitments from gas suppliers, and the repair schedule for gas pipelines, we should begin to see improvements within two weeks,” he said.
Adelabu explained that authorities already have projections for completing key repairs, including work on facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are expected to restore gas supply to power plants.
He added that a dedicated committee is monitoring compliance by gas producers with their domestic supply obligations—an issue that has long constrained electricity generation in the country.
“We have a committee in place to track how gas companies meet their supply commitments to power plants,” he noted, adding that improved payment mechanisms would further incentivise increased gas delivery.
Nigeria’s power sector, heavily dependent on gas-fired plants, has faced setbacks due to supply disruptions, pipeline maintenance challenges, and financial constraints affecting operators.
While acknowledging these structural issues, Adelabu stressed that efforts are ongoing to stabilise the national grid and restore reliable electricity supply.
“We are working round the clock to return to the performance levels of 2025, when Nigerians commended our efforts,” he said.
He also reiterated the Federal Government’s goal of increasing electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current situation as a temporary setback in a broader reform agenda.
“Generation, transmission, and distribution will all improve, and we are confident of reaching 6,000 megawatts before the end of the year. Nigerians will benefit from this,” he assured.
Adelabu added that the government is not only focused on recovery but also on surpassing previous achievements.
“If we delivered strong performance in 2025, then in 2026, we aim to do even better,” he said.
