NNPC disputes NISO gas shortage claim, reports 10% gas production growth

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has rejected the Nigerian Independent System Operator’s explanation that gas supply constraints are driving Nigeria’s declining electricity generation, saying gas production volumes grew about 10% in 2026 year to date.

In a press statement issued in Abuja on November 6, 2026, NNPC said its gas transportation network had no recorded constraints affecting deliveries to power generating stations nationwide. The clarification followed NISO’s November 5 statement attributing the decline in electricity generation to limited gas availability for thermal power plants and reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs.

NNPC reports 10% gas production growth

NNPC said the gas transportation network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remains available to support deliveries to power stations, with no transportation-related constraints recorded within its network.

The company attributed the 10% growth in gas production to the Federal Government’s gas development and monetisation agenda. It maintained that gas supply availability was not a challenge and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting electricity generation through reliable gas supply and transportation.

The statement, signed by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, partly reads: “NNPC Limited confirms that gas transportation network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remains available to support deliveries to power generating stations Nationwide without any constraints. NGIC’s operational records do not indicate transportation-related constraints within its network that explain the current decline in electricity generation.”

NNPC said the availability of its transportation network should be assessed separately from gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants. It added that a proper assessment of the generation shortfall should also examine power plant readiness, maintenance schedules and actual gas offtake. The company called for a coordinated review involving gas suppliers, transporters, power generators and NISO to identify the specific constraints.

NISO links power decline to gas shortages

In its November 5 statement, NISO attributed the decline in electricity generation to limited gas availability for thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower water inflows into reservoirs.

The system operator said the constraints had reduced electricity available for distribution, resulting in shorter supply hours and increased load shedding across distribution networks. Insufficient gas had prevented some thermal generating stations from operating at available capacity. Reduced water inflows had affected the output of hydroelectric stations. The impact varied across the country, depending on available generation and electricity allocations to individual Distribution Companies (DisCos).

NISO acknowledged the impact on consumers and said it was working to diversify the national grid’s energy mix to strengthen electricity supply security.

TCN disputes Ikeja Electric’s outage claim

The disagreement follows earlier disputes over the causes of electricity disruptions. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) accused Ikeja Electric of misleading customers by attributing feeder outages in parts of Lagos to grid instability. TCN maintained that the disruptions were largely caused by reduced power generation and faults on Ikeja Electric’s distribution network.

TCN said 68% of interruptions recorded on feeders supplying Ikeja Electric on November 1 and 2 resulted from frequency-control load shedding caused by low generation. Another 26% were linked to Ikeja Electric’s non-compliance with load allocations or faults and maintenance on its network. The remaining 6% involved TCN-planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations.

Of 46 interruptions recorded on the 33kV feeders listed in Ikeja Electric’s notice, TCN attributed 29 to low generation and 14 to the distribution company, with the remaining three linked to scheduled TCN maintenance. TCN also cited Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, which it said assigns NISO responsibility for determining the causes of disturbances and interruptions on the national grid. It urged DisCos to rely on verified information from NISO when explaining supply disruptions to customers.

The dispute matters for households and businesses because it shapes how power shortages are diagnosed and fixed. With NNPC denying a gas transportation bottleneck, attention shifts to plant readiness, maintenance and actual gas offtake.