Nigeria's electricity consumers are receiving fewer hours of power, and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has linked the decline to inadequate gas supply and reduced water inflow, according to Channels Television.
The explanation came as outages affected five states, with the Federal Government pointing to a gas shortage, Punch Newspapers reported. Sahara Reporters also carried the agency's position, saying NISO blamed poor gas supply and low water inflow for power disruptions across the country.
The Guardian Nigeria News reported that gas shortages and falling hydro capacity are deepening the country's electricity crisis, describing the two factors as worsening an already difficult situation.
The disclosure drew a response from government. TheCable reported that Tegbe directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to improve supply, saying Nigerians deserve better.
Taken together, the reports describe a system under strain from two directions: thermal plants short of gas and hydro stations working with less water. Neither cause has been given a timeline for resolution in the reporting.
What to watch next: whether gas supply to power plants and water levels at hydro stations recover, and how the TCN, NISO and DisCos respond to the directive to raise supply.