Despite a reported increase in Nigeria's electricity generation by 26.2% to 4,591 megawatts (MW) over the weekend from 3,636MW the previous week, many households and consumers are experiencing a dark Yuletide season. The shutdown of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) pipeline, which supplies gas to Egbin Power, the country's largest power plant, has resulted in a significant decline in power generation, transmission, and supply to consumers nationwide. Although the energy system operator's report, which indicated the current generation at 4,591MW, raised hopes for improved power supply following the restoration of gas to the Egbin power plant, checks by Vanguard yesterday revealed that many parts of the country were still without power, leaving them to celebrate the festive season in darkness.

A resident of the Makoko area of Lagos, who identified himself as Tunde Salami, expressed his concerns about the situation. He mentioned that before the three-day notice of a total power outage on December 18, 2023, Makoko and its environs used to have at least six hours of electricity, albeit intermittently. However, after the expiration of the three-day notice, the power generation and supply did not improve as expected. Since Thursday, there has been no public power supply, leading to increased discomfort due to the intensified heat, with residents, especially children, struggling to sleep at night and having to take frequent baths to cope with the conditions. The lack of electricity has also impacted essential services, such as water supply, causing a standstill in daily life for the affected residents.

The situation has left many feeling neglected, as the EKEDC officials appear to be silent about the issue. Tunde Salami emphasized the critical role of electricity in the livelihoods of the people in Makoko, stating that without public power supply, essential services such as water are also affected, bringing life to a standstill in the area.

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