The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the persistent electricity outages recorded in recent weeks, acknowledging the severe impact on households, businesses, and critical sectors.

Adelabu offered the apology on Tuesday during a press conference in Abuja, amid growing public frustration over erratic power supply worsened by intense dry-season heat driving higher electricity demand.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians… for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season,” he said, noting that homes, schools, and industries have all been adversely affected.

The minister attributed the disruptions largely to factors beyond immediate government control, particularly challenges in gas supply to power plants.

Despite the setbacks, he assured that the situation would improve soon, stating that Nigerians should begin to see better electricity supply within two weeks.

“With commitments from gas suppliers and timelines for pipeline repairs, we expect noticeable improvements in supply within two weeks,” Adelabu said.

He revealed that key repairs involving facilities operated by Seplat Energy are underway, which are expected to restore gas flow to power generation plants.

According to the minister, a special committee has been set up to monitor compliance with domestic gas supply obligations by producers, a longstanding issue affecting electricity generation.

He added that improved payment structures for gas suppliers are also being prioritised to boost supply and stabilise the sector.

Nigeria’s power sector, which relies heavily on gas-fired plants, has faced recurring disruptions due to pipeline maintenance issues and liquidity constraints across the value chain.

Adelabu acknowledged these structural challenges but maintained that efforts are ongoing to restore stability and improve performance.

“We are working round the clock to return to the trajectory of 2025, when Nigerians commended improvements in the power sector,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s target to increase electricity generation to 6,000 megawatts before the end of 2026, describing the current crisis as a temporary setback.

“Power generation, transmission, and distribution will improve, and Nigerians will be better for it,” he assured.

Nigeria’s electricity industry continues to grapple with longstanding issues, including inadequate gas supply, ageing infrastructure, transmission bottlenecks, and financial constraints, all of which have limited consistent power delivery nationwide.