Daily power output on Nigeria's national grid is determined by the requests from electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), generation declarations from Generation Companies (GenCos), and the Transmission Company of Nigeria's (TCN) wheeling capacity. Ndidi Mbah, TCN's general manager of Public Affairs, explained that the grid does not operate at maximum generation capacity unless DisCos request the power and GenCos declare it available. She noted that TCN faces technical and financial constraints that limit its ability to transmit all generated power. Any party that fails to meet its obligations—DisCos for under-requesting, GenCos for under-generating, or TCN for wheeling shortfalls—is subject to penalties under the grid code. Mbah added that transmission constraints, including maintenance needs and infrastructure age, affect performance. The clarification comes amid ongoing public frustration over inconsistent power supply despite claims of high generation capacity.
TCN's explanation shifts blame for poor power delivery away from transmission alone, exposing a broken chain where DisCos' low demand and GenCos' unmet output are equally responsible. Ndidi Mbah's statement reveals that even if generation hits 5,000MW, Nigerians get no more than what DisCos choose to pull—often less due to infrastructure or commercial limitations. This means fixing the power sector requires more than technical upgrades; it demands accountability across all three tiers. Without enforcement on DisCos and GenCos, higher generation figures will remain just numbers on a spreadsheet.
