NISO Warns of 4-day Power Cut as Gas Shutdown Hits Major Plants

Gas maintenance will slash Nigeria’s grid capacity by 20% over the next four days, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) warned on Thursday, signaling potential blackouts for consumers nationwide.
NISO said the disruption stems from a scheduled shutdown of a major gas supply facility from February 12 to 15, 2026, inclusive – exactly four days – with full restoration slated for February 16. NISO’s notice highlights direct impacts on thermal power plants like Egbin, Azura, Sapele, and Transcorp, plus indirect constraints on NDPHC stations at Sapele, Olorunsogo, and Omotosho from network-wide balancing.

This could wipe out 934.96 megawatts (MW), or 19.67 per cent of the current 4,753.10 MW thermal and hydro capacity, straining an already fragile grid amid rising dry-season demand.
To maintain stability, NISO vows real-time measures, including National Control Centre monitoring and fair load allocation via Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Any required shedding will shield critical infrastructure – hospitals, security sites, and essentials – in a transparent, equitable rollout.

The four-day window exposes Nigeria’s gas dependency vulnerabilities, fueling debates on faster diversification and infrastructure upgrades under ongoing power sector reforms.
Manufacturers and households, especially in Lagos fed by Egbin, may endure rotational cuts, hiking economic costs from backup generators.

NISO therefore sought public cooperation, stressing the maintenance’s role in long-term gas reliability for power generation.
The system operator stated updates will follow as the situation unfolds.