The Federal Government has acknowledged the recent severe electricity disruptions affecting households, commercial enterprises, and public institutions across Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara, and Oyo States, issuing an official assurance to the public that swift measures are underway to restore regular supply.
The announcement follows a decisive presidential directive enabling the Ministry of Power to successfully clear the first batch of 44 containers filled with critical power equipment that had remained stranded at Apapa Port in Lagos for over a decade.
​Preliminary assessments by the Ministry of Power attribute the reduced electricity supply across the affected regions to ongoing gas supply constraints servicing key thermal power stations, routine maintenance delays, and reduced reservoir water levels impacting hydroelectric power generation.
Officials confirmed that the widespread downtime is the result of operational capacity limitations rather than a system-wide grid collapse.
The clearance of the initial 44 containers out of more than 300 abandoned units—some held in port storage since 2014—was formally announced following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja.
​The successful port clearance marks a major step forward in unlocking vital infrastructure components for the national grid. The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) previously recovered 110 stranded containers and 216 packages, a milestone that added approximately 470 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity to the national grid while saving the country over ₦30 billion in potential replacement costs.
​Speaking on behalf of the administration on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in Abuja, Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Power, emphasized the government’s awareness of the situation.
​”The Ministry of Power has noted the concerns of Nigerians in some parts of the country that have experienced reduced electricity supply in the past few days, especially Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo States,” Adelabu stated. “We recognise what every hour without electricity means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly.”
​Minister of Power Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe further detailed the government’s recovery strategy during the Federal Executive Council briefing in Abuja, pointing to the administrative breakthroughs behind the operation.
​”The release of the first 44 containers represents significant progress in our determination to recover critical public power assets, resolve long-standing administrative bottlenecks with the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Ports Authority, and accelerate infrastructure development,” Tegbe remarked.
​Technical teams from the Ministry of Power are slated to conduct immediate inspections of the newly released containers to integrate all serviceable components into active power infrastructure projects nationwide.
To ensure rapid execution, Minister Tegbe has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), and regional Distribution Companies (DisCos) to resolve remaining distribution bottlenecks and expedite the full restoration of power across the affected states.
