Nigeria’s power grid ran at just 36% capacity in January – NERC

By Goli Innocent

Nigeria’s electricity supply struggled in January 2026, with the national grid operating well below capacity and facing frequent instability, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reported.

According to NERC’s Operational Performance Factsheet, only an average of 4,901 megawatts (MW) was available for dispatch from the country’s total installed generation capacity of 13,625MW, resulting in a Plant Availability Factor (PAF) of just 36 per cent.

“The grid-connected plants recorded a Plant Availability Factor (PAF) of 36%. At any time during the month, only an average of 4,901MW was available for dispatch into the grid,” the commission noted.

NERC added that grid frequency fluctuated beyond prescribed limits, with a lower average of 49.03Hz and an upper average of 50.66Hz, surpassing the recommended range of 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz.

Despite the low capacity, the Average Load Factor (ALF) was recorded at 90 per cent, indicating that about 4,421 megawatt-hours per hour of the available power was actually dispatched and consumed. The data highlights the high demand for electricity and limited reserves within the system.

The report underscores ongoing challenges for Nigeria’s power sector, including ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and operational inefficiencies, which continue to affect electricity supply across the country.

As the country heads into 2026, NERC and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) have emphasised the need for improved power plant performance and consistent monitoring to stabilise the grid and meet growing energy demands.