**Power Outages Bite Hard: Nigeria's Energy Woes Worsen** Nigeria's electricity supply has hit rock bottom, plunging the country into an unprecedented energy crisis. The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has revealed that the prolonged power outages affecting homes and businesses across the country are largely due to a drastic drop in gas supply to thermal power plants. As a result, the average electricity generation has dwindled to a paltry 4,300 megawatts, a far cry from the country's installed capacity. The crisis has been brewing since early February when scheduled maintenance on key gas supply infrastructure by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Seplat Energy temporarily disrupted gas deliveries to several thermal plants, triggering a nationwide decline in electricity generation. Unfortunately, the situation has persisted due to ongoing constraints in gas supply, exacerbating the power shortfall. According to NISO, the drop in supply is directly linked to severe gas constraints affecting thermal generating stations, which form the dominant share of Nigeria's electricity generation mix. The operator has explained that thermal plants account for the backbone of the national grid, and any disruption in gas supply automatically translates into lower generation and reduced energy allocation to Distribution Companies. To illustrate the extent of the shortfall, NISO has revealed that thermal power plants require an estimated 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity. However, as of February 23, 2026, actual supply stood at approximately 692.00 mmscf per day, representing less than 43% of the required volume. The implications of this shortage are dire, with more than half of the gas needed to power thermal plants daily being unavailable, severely limiting electricity dispatch nationwide. With supply falling short of demand, NISO has been compelled to implement load shedding to stabilise the grid, leaving many Nigerians in the dark. As the country struggles to cope with this energy crisis, the question on everyone's lips is: what next? The Nigerian government must take immediate action to address the gas supply constraints and ensure a stable energy supply to the nation. The fate of Nigeria's economy and the welfare of its citizens hang in the balance.