A new report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has painted a grim picture of the nation’s power sector, revealing that only 38 percent of power-generating plants were available for use in December 2025.
This indicates that a staggering 62 percent of the country’s installed capacity was effectively stranded, leaving the grid deprived of over 7,000MW of potential power during the festive period.
The Commission’s Factsheet on the Operational Performance of Power Plants highlights a stark contrast between potential and reality.
While the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) boasts an installed capacity of 13,625MW, only an average of 5,151MW was actually available for dispatch during the month. Consequently, the actual average hourly generation delivered to the grid stood at just 4,367MW.
The data further underscores the sector’s heavy reliance on a few key performers, with the top 10 largest energy producers accounting for 81 percent of the total energy generated. This dominant group includes major facilities such as Egbin 1, Delta 1, Kainji 1, Zungeru 1, Afam 2, Shiroro 1, Jebba 1, Okpai 1, Ihovbor 2, and Geregu 1.
Among these top producers, the Zungeru Hydroelectric Plant emerged as the standout performer, operating at its full 100 percent capacity to deliver 700MW.
It was followed closely by Ihovbor 2, which produced 459MW, representing 99 percent of its 491MW capacity, and Jebba Hydro, which recorded a strong output of 538MW, or 93 percent of its installed capacity. Kainji 1 also maintained robust operations, generating 564MW, which accounts for 74 percent of its capacity.
However, not all major plants matched this efficiency. The report noted that Egbin produced 320MW out of its referenced capacity, while Afam 2 struggled significantly, generating only 115MW, a mere 18 percent of its 650MW capacity. The factsheet concluded with a concerning overview of the grid’s operational health, noting that out of the 26 grid-connected power plants, only 18 were functional during the review period.