# Nigeria’s State Oil Firm Rejects Blame for Widespread National Power Grid Failures

*News · World Desk · Published 2026-11-08T03:47:53Z*

Canonical: https://amk.news/article/nigeria-s-state-oil-firm-rejects-blame-for-widespread-national-power-grid-failur

> The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has denied that gas supply constraints are responsible for the ongoing national grid instability and power shortages. Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has since promised that electricity supply will stabilize across the country within 72 hours.

## Key points

- The Nigerian National Petroleum Company formally denied that gas supply constraints are responsible for ongoing national grid instability and widespread power shortages.
- Power Minister Joseph Tegbe promised the federal government will stabilize electricity supply across the country within seventy-two hours.
- The Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed persistent power outages to a significant drop in power generation and distribution infrastructure constraints.

## Why is Nigeria currently experiencing widespread power outages?

Nigeria is facing a severe energy crisis due to a combination of declining power generation, grid instability, and conflicting claims regarding the root causes of the blackouts. While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has formally attributed the persistent outages to a significant drop in power generation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has actively dismissed claims that its gas supply or transportation constraints are responsible for the diminished output. The instability of the national grid remains a critical concern, with reports of recurring collapses leaving large sections of the country without electricity.

## Is the NNPC responsible for the gas shortages affecting power plants?

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company maintains that it is not the source of the current electricity generation decline, explicitly rejecting suggestions that gas supply limitations are to blame. This position directly challenges reports from other observers, such as NISO, which have identified both gas shortages and low water levels at hydroelectric plants as primary drivers of the supply decline. Amid the finger-pointing, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has further intensified the debate by accusing distribution entities, specifically the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), of misrepresenting the reasons for load shedding and grid instability to customers on high-capacity Band A feeders.

## What is the government's plan to restore electricity service?

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has formally addressed the nation, acknowledging the frustration caused by the blackouts while outlining a plan to stabilize the system. According to the Minister, the federal government is actively working to resolve infrastructure constraints that have plagued the national grid. Tegbe has provided a firm timeline, assuring citizens that electricity supply is expected to see notable improvements within 72 hours. This commitment follows public pressure on the Ministry of Power to provide clarity on the persistent energy shortages that have crippled businesses and households alike.

_Lagos Television POWER PLANT (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_

> The federal government has issued a formal assurance that the ongoing electricity supply crisis across Nigeria will be resolved with noticeable improvements within 72 hours.

## How do stakeholders explain the grid instability and power decline?

The narrative surrounding the collapse of the power sector remains highly fragmented, with stakeholders offering competing explanations. Minister Joseph Tegbe has characterized the situation as a mix of technical challenges and instances of sabotage, though he emphasizes that efforts are underway to rectify these hurdles. Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria continues to assert that the national grid's fragility is a direct result of generation deficits. As the debate continues, the Nigerian public remains caught between these conflicting institutional accounts while waiting for the promised restoration of reliable power services.

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