By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s power generation sector recorded significant underperformance in March 2026, with only 30 per cent of installed electricity capacity available for dispatch, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Data from the commission’s March 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet showed that just 4,089 megawatts (MW) out of the total installed capacity of 13,625MW by Generation Companies (GenCos) was available for transmission to the grid.
This indicates that about 70 per cent of the country’s installed power capacity remained idle during the period, highlighting persistent operational challenges in the upstream segment of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Despite the limited availability, Distribution Companies (DisCos) utilised 3,815 megawatt-hours per hour, representing 93 per cent of the available generation capacity.
NERC described this as a strong utilisation rate, noting that the average load factor stood at 93 per cent, reflecting efficient use of the power that was generated.
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The report also identified top-performing plants during the period, including Ihovbor 2, Kainji 1 and Jebba 1, which recorded high availability and utilisation levels compared to others on the grid.
The development underscores ongoing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s power generation segment, even as demand for electricity continues to outpace supply across the country
