Electricity generation in Nigeria rose to 4,300 megawatts (MW) between March 28 and April 10, up from 3,951MW, according to the Federal Government. The increase was confirmed in a statement by Mr Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, issued in Abuja. Tunji attributed the improvement to a rise in gas supply to thermal power plants, which climbed from about 605 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to over 704 mmscfd during the period. Mechanical availability peaked at over 7,796MW in early April, while operational availability increased from approximately 4,208MW to over 4,694MW.
The improvement follows a pledge by Power Minister Mr Adebayo Adelabu to boost electricity supply within two weeks, as stated at the Power Sector Working Group. Tunji said the upward trend reflects better coordination among stakeholders and a strong link between gas supply and power output. A newly inaugurated Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee is expected to sustain the gains by addressing gas delivery bottlenecks and improving synergy between gas producers and generation firms.
Adelabu also urged the new management of the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), led by Managing Director Mr Olusegun Adesayo and Board Chairman Mr Ikechi Nwosu, to increase Internally Generated Revenue and reduce reliance on federal funding. He called for more meter testing centres across geopolitical zones and recommended collaboration with the National Power Training Institute to train more meter installers.
Adebayo Adelabu's focus on gas supply as the linchpin of power improvement reveals a long-standing truth: Nigeria's electricity fortunes remain chained to a single, fragile variable—gas delivery. Despite the 4,300MW figure sounding like progress, it remains far below the country's estimated demand, exposing how incremental gains are still rooted in fixing basic upstream failures rather than systemic transformation. The creation of a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee suggests the minister understands the coordination gaps, but such ad-hoc structures have been tried before with limited lasting impact.
The emphasis on NEMSA's revenue generation and meter testing centres points to deeper institutional weaknesses. Adelabu's directive to reduce reliance on federal appropriation reflects an expectation that agencies should operate like businesses—even as they function in a sector where cost recovery, meter shortages, and distribution inefficiencies remain unresolved. His confidence in presidential appointees doing "well" also subtly underscores how political loyalty continues to shape technical appointments, regardless of performance history.
For millions of Nigerians, especially small businesses and households outside the grid, the jump from 3,951MW to 4,300MW means little in daily life. The real issue isn't just megawatts generated but how many homes are connected, how stable local supply is, and whether tariffs reflect service quality. Until metering, distribution, and last-mile access improve, generation increases will remain a statistic, not a solution.
This story fits a familiar cycle: a short-term uptick, a new committee, a minister's pledge, and renewed promises. Nigeria has seen this script before—each time mistaking marginal improvement for structural progress.
