NNPC Denies Gas Transportation Constraints Behind Nigeria’s Power Shortage

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has dismissed claims that constraints in its gas transportation network are contributing to the decline in electricity generation across the country.

The company said its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), has the capacity to transport gas to power plants nationwide without operational constraints.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Andy Odeh, NNPC said its operational records showed no transportation-related challenges within its network that could explain the decline in electricity generation.

The clarification follows a statement by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which identified limited gas availability and reduced water inflows to hydroelectric power stations as factors behind the drop in electricity generation.

NNPC, however, explained that gas transportation infrastructure, gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants were separate aspects of the gas-to-power value chain.

It said other factors, including the availability and operational readiness of generating units, maintenance schedules and actual gas offtake, must also be examined to determine the causes of the power shortfall.

The company called for a coordinated review of operational data by gas suppliers, transporters, power generators and NISO to identify specific constraints and guide appropriate interventions.

The development comes amid worsening electricity shortages across major Nigerian cities, including Lagos and Abuja, with households and businesses facing increased pressure from unreliable power supply.

On Friday, the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, attributed the outages to planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and gas supply constraints affecting some thermal power plants.

Mr Tegbe said efforts were underway to restore the affected generating units in phases, with the first units expected to return to service within 48 to 72 hours.

The state oil company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting electricity generation through reliable gas supply and transportation, adding that its gas development and monetisation agenda had contributed to approximately 10 per cent growth in gas production volumes year-to-date in 2026.