KEY POINTS
- Ikeja Electric blamed worsening power outages in Lagos on a nationwide drop in electricity generation caused by insufficient gas supply to thermal power plants.
- The reduced generation has lowered allocations to distribution companies, resulting in intermittent supply and load shedding across the Ikeja Electric network.
- The company assured customers of equitable distribution of limited power while urging patience as efforts continue to improve gas supply and stabilise generation.
Electricity distribution company Ikeja Electric has attributed the worsening power outages across Lagos to a nationwide decline in electricity generation. The company said the development has significantly reduced the energy available for distribution, leaving residents and businesses to grapple with poor and inconsistent power supply.
The update followed growing complaints from customers across Lagos who have reported prolonged blackouts, intermittent supply, and load shedding in recent days.
In a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, Ikeja Electric explained that the drop in generation was caused by insufficient gas supply to thermal power plants, which account for the bulk of Nigeria’s electricity production.
According to the company, the shortfall in gas supply has reduced generation capacity nationwide, affecting allocations to distribution companies, including Ikeja Electric. This has consequently limited the amount of electricity available for customers within its network.
Okotie noted that the reduction in generation has forced the company to implement load shedding and ration available supply across different areas.
Company Promises Equitable Distribution of Available Power
Despite the limited supply, Ikeja Electric assured customers that it remains committed to distributing the available electricity as efficiently and fairly as possible. The company acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outages and appealed for patience.
The firm explained that the situation was beyond its control, as generation and gas supply issues were being handled at the national level. It added that efforts were ongoing to improve gas supply to power plants and stabilise electricity generation.
Okotie said the management regrets the disruption to homes and businesses and appreciates customers’ understanding during the period of constrained supply.
The statement comes amid worsening electricity supply across Lagos, where households and businesses have continued to complain about unreliable power. Many customers have reported extended outages, forcing increased reliance on generators and raising operating costs for businesses.
The ongoing decline in generation has further strained power availability in the commercial hub, highlighting the continued vulnerability of Nigeria’s electricity sector to gas supply disruptions.
