NNPC says gas pipelines are not to blame for Nigeria's recent power generation slump

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has issued a statement denying that constraints in its gas transportation system are responsible for the recent decline in electricity generation across the country. In a briefing held in Abuja on 6 November 2026, Chief Corporate Communications Officer Andy Odeh said the pipelines managed by the subsidiary NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) are fully operational and capable of delivering gas to power plants nationwide.

NNPC’s clarification comes after the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) attributed the lower generation levels on 5 November to limited gas availability and reduced water inflows at hydroelectric stations. While NISO highlighted gas shortages as a factor, NNPC stressed that its transport network shows no operational bottlenecks and that gas production has risen by roughly 10 percent year‑to‑date in 2026, reflecting the federal government’s gas development and monetisation agenda.

Background

The dispute centres on the gas‑to‑power value chain, which links upstream gas production, commercial supply arrangements, transportation, and the final delivery to generating units. NISO’s 5 November report identified two primary contributors to the shortfall: constrained gas supplies and diminished hydro‑water inflows. In response, NNPC released a statement on 6 November, signed by Andy Odeh, asserting that NGIC’s operational records do not reveal any transportation‑related constraints that could explain the generation drop.

NNPC highlighted that its subsidiary’s pipeline network remains available for nationwide deliveries and that the recent increase in gas output is a direct result of the government’s policy push. However, the company cautioned that the availability of transport infrastructure does not automatically guarantee smooth operation of the entire gas‑to‑power chain. It called for separate assessments of gas production volumes, commercial contracts, and the actual offtake at individual power stations.

Why it matters

Nigeria’s electricity supply has been under intense scrutiny as consumers experience fewer power hours. If gas, a primary fuel for thermal power plants, is indeed constrained, it could exacerbate the generation deficit and affect industrial output, household consumption, and overall economic growth. NNPC’s assertion that pipelines are functioning and that production has risen aims to reassure stakeholders that the bottleneck lies elsewhere, possibly in plant maintenance, generation unit readiness, or the logistics of gas offtake.

The company also emphasized the need for a coordinated review involving gas producers, transporters, power generators, and NISO. Accurate reporting across the entire value chain, according to NNPC, is essential to pinpoint specific constraints and restore public confidence in the energy sector.

What happens next

NNPC has offered to support a joint review of operational data with the relevant parties to identify any precise constraints within the gas‑to‑power system. The statement indicates that such a review would examine generation unit availability, maintenance schedules, and actual gas offtake alongside transport network performance. No specific timeline for this coordinated assessment was provided, but the company’s commitment to a collaborative approach suggests that further discussions with NISO and other stakeholders are forthcoming.

The ongoing dialogue underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s power challenges, with multiple agencies and private operators needing to align on data and operational practices to resolve the current shortfall.