* As producers threaten to cut supply
A prolonged national blackout seems imminent in Nigeria
as electricity generation companies (DisCos) have raised
the alarm that gas producers threatened to halt supply
over accumulated N3.3 trillion debt.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power
Generation Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji, disclosed this
during an interview on Fresh FM.
Ogaji attributed the power outage Nigerians are grappling
with for months to the debt owed gas suppliers.
According to her, the country, which currently depends on
supply from thermal plants powered by gas that manage to
generate only 3,334 megawatts of electricity to the
national grid as of Wednesday, is suffering gas shortages.
Speaking on the accumulated debts the Federal
government owes the GenCos, Ogaji said it had grown to
N6.8 trillion at the end of February 2026.
“Gas is not available because the gas suppliers have told us
that if we need gas, we need to put money on the ground to
get gas in the pipe. We owe them a lot of money.
“From 2015 to December 2024, the debt profile grew to N4
trillion. In each month of 2025, there is a shortfall of N200
billion so if you calculate N200 billion times 12, that is
N2.4 trillion, making the whole debt N6.4 trillion after
December 2025. We’re already in March 2026. The debt
grew to N6.6 trillion in January and N6.8 trillion in
February.
“Yes, it is 120 percent correct to say that the debt is the
reason why we are in darkness,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who
is occupied with his governorship ambition in Oyo State,
said the issue is being addressed.
However, Nigerians are yet to see improved power supply.
Speaking through his spokesperson Bolaji Tunji, the
minister said the matter is being treated in collaboration
with the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe
Ekpo.
“It is being handled jointly with the Minister of State for
Petroleum (Gas),” Tunji said in a brief message.
Reports said since December last year, Nigerians have
been battling with epileptic power supply regardless of the
Band.
The hardship caused by the blackout has been worsened
by the surge in the price of fuel and diesel to over N1,100
and N1,600 per liter, respectively, after Dangote Refinery
raised its gantry price following the war between the
United States, Israel and Iran, which pushed crude oil
prices upwards.