Nigerians may experience worsening power outages as electricity generation companies warn that gas suppliers have threatened to stop supplying gas over a ₦3.3 trillion debt.
Dr. Joy Ogaji, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies, 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 owe the Gencos, Ogaji said it had grown to N6.8 trillion as of 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, Adelabu 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.
Since December last year Nigerians have been battling with epileptic power supply.
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.
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