Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says efforts are underway to ease the country’s worsening electricity crisis, as gas shortages continue to choke power generation and leave millions in the dark.

Speaking in a message to mark Eid al-Fitr, Adelabu expressed cautious optimism, saying reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu are beginning to take hold.

“Concrete measures are being implemented to ensure more reliable and sustainable electricity,” he said, adding that Nigerians should begin to see improvements soon.

But on the ground, the situation remains strained.

Power generation has fallen below 4,000 megawatts in recent weeks, a fraction of what Africa’s most populous nation needs  after gas suppliers cut off deliveries to thermal plants over an estimated ₦3.3 trillion debt owed by generation companies.

The numbers tell a stark story: Nigeria’s thermal plants require about 1.63 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily to function optimally. As of late February, less than half of that around 692 million, was being supplied.

For households and businesses, the impact has been immediate. Prolonged blackouts have become routine, forcing many to depend on expensive diesel and petrol generators, even as fuel prices remain high and temperatures climb.

Joy Ogaji, who heads the Association of Power Generation Companies, has warned that the mounting debt across the sector could trigger a deeper crisis if not urgently addressed.

Power companies, for their part, say the situation is largely beyond their control and have urged consumers to remain patient.

Adelabu acknowledged the pressure but framed the current disruptions as part of a longer transition. Fixing gas supply constraints, he said, is key to stabilising the system, while broader reforms are aimed at improving efficiency and attracting investment.

He also pointed to recent international engagements by the president including meetings in the United Kingdom as part of efforts to unlock funding for critical infrastructure.

Still, for many Nigerians, the gap between policy assurances and daily reality remains wide. Reliable electricity has long been inconsistent, and repeated promises of reform have often been followed by setbacks.