Nigeria’s power sector recorded another strong performance on Tuesday as available electricity generation climbed above 5,400MW, bringing the national grid closer to its previous peak.
Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria showed that 5,403.3MW was available for allocation on September 22, 2026. The figure leaves a gap of about 398.54MW between the latest level and the country’s 5,801.84MW instantaneous generation record.
The existing record was achieved at 9:15pm on March 4, 2025, according to electricity grid milestone data.
Tuesday’s figure emerged from the Daily Load Allocation Table released by the National Control Centre. The schedule showed that 4,379.07MW was assigned to electricity distribution companies, while 1,024.18MW went toward exempted loads and other system requirements.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received the largest allocation among the DisCos, with 700MW. Ikeja followed with 581MW, while Ibadan received 550MW.
Benin DisCo was allocated 531MW. Eko received 519MW, while Enugu and Port Harcourt received 512MW and 466MW respectively.
Kano DisCo got 161MW, Kaduna received 155MW, Jos was allocated 134MW and Yola received 70MW.
The improvement comes as the Federal Government pushes to raise electricity output and expand the capacity of the transmission network.
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe previously disclosed that generation and transmission had crossed 5,000MW in recent weeks. He also said the grid recorded a generation peak of 5,330MW during August and September.
Still, Tuesday’s 5,403.3MW should not be confused with Nigeria’s all-time instantaneous generation record. The latest figure represents available generation in the load allocation schedule, while the 5,801.84MW milestone represents the highest output recorded at a specific moment.
Nigeria’s installed generation capacity stands at 13,014.40MW. Actual production, however, has remained considerably lower because several factors limit how much available capacity can be converted into electricity.
The government has identified gas shortages, ageing power plants, delayed maintenance, transmission bottlenecks and payment challenges as some of the major constraints.
Tegbe said only about 27 per cent of generation companies’ bills had been paid, affecting their ability to maintain facilities and settle payments to gas suppliers.
The government has also reported progress on some infrastructure projects. Tegbe said the 375MW Alaoji open-cycle plant had returned to service after three years offline.
He added that transformers commissioned in Apapa, Ijora, Alausa and Lekki unlocked 672MW of transmission capacity in Lagos. A 300MVA transformer at Katampe, Abuja, also unlocked an additional 240MW.
Despite these gains, Nigeria’s grid remains below its 2025 record. The government plans to focus further attention on key transmission corridors, including Lagos, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano.
Plans are also underway for a transmission supergrid as authorities seek to move more generated electricity to homes and businesses across the country.
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