The federal government says electricity generation has recorded a modest improvement in the last two weeks, rising from 3,951 megawatts (MW) on March 28 to over 4,300MW by April 10.

In a statement on Sunday, Bolaji Tunji, special adviser on strategic communications and media relations to Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the increase reflects progress in efforts to stabilise electricity supply.

Tunji said the development aligns with a recent assurance by Adelabu, who pledged improved electricity supply within two weeks at a power sector working group meeting.

According to the spokesperson, the improvement in generation output is closely linked to increased gas supply to thermal power plants, which increased from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to over 704 mmscfd within the period.

“Data from the period under review show a consistent upward trend in generation, supported by improved gas availability and better coordination among stakeholders,” Tunji said.

He added that mechanical availability also improved, peaking at over 7,796MW in early April, while operational availability increased from about 4,208MW to over 4,694MW.

“Despite minor fluctuations recorded on some days, the overall trajectory points to a gradual recovery in the power sector,” he said.

Tunji said the strong correlation between gas supply and electricity generation underscores the need for sustained interventions in the gas-to-power value chain, given Nigeria’s reliance on thermal plants.

To consolidate the gains, he said the minister recently inaugurated a gas-to-power monitoring committee to improve coordination and ensure steady gas supply to generation companies.

“The committee is expected to address bottlenecks in gas delivery, enhance synergy between gas producers and power generation companies, and ultimately guarantee more stable electricity supply,” he said.

Tunji added that the government remains committed to sustaining and improving the gains recorded in the sector.

“We are not there yet, but we will continue to ensure measurable improvements,” he said.

ADELABU TASKS NEMSA ON REVENUE, METER INFRASTRUCTURE

Tunji said Adelabu has urged the management of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to improve its internally generated revenue (IGR) and reduce reliance on government funding.

The minister gave the charge during a meeting with Olusegun Adesayo, managing director of the agency, and Ikechi Nwosu, chairman of its board.

Adelabu said the agency should focus on boosting revenue while strengthening its operational capacity, including expanding meter testing centres nationwide.

“We should plan towards having meter testing centres in each of the geopolitical zones. Having the right tools is critical to delivering on your mandate,” the minister said.

He also stressed the need to address manpower shortages, particularly among meter installers, and called for collaboration with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria to train more personnel.

“We need to ensure more installers are trained to accelerate efforts to bridge the metering gap,” Adelabu said.

“You may not fix everything immediately, but understanding the problems and how to resolve them is key.”

The minister expressed confidence in the new management and said the full board of the agency would be inaugurated soon, urging the leadership to conduct a comprehensive assessment of challenges facing the organisation.
By Busola Aro
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