KEY POINTS
- Power Minister Adelabu inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee in Abuja on Thursday
- Gas-fired plants supply 80 percent of Nigeria’s electricity; gas cuts in January over a $1.3bn debt caused a sharp drop in grid output
- The committee will oversee pipeline repairs, debt settlement and commercial barriers limiting gas availability to power plants
Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu on Thursday inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee in Abuja, describing the panel as a decisive step toward resolving one of the most critical constraints in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.
Speaking at the inauguration, Adelabu said gas-fired power plants contribute about 80 percent of Nigeria’s electricity generation but continue to face disruptions from pipeline vandalism, mounting debts to gas producers and weak coordination across the value chain. In January, gas companies cut supply to power generation companies over a $1.3 billion debt, causing a sharp drop in grid output.
Committee mandate and composition
Meanwhile, Adelabu said the gas power committee emerged from deliberations at the first quarter 2026 Ministerial Power Sector Working Group meeting, where stakeholders identified infrastructure gaps, liquidity constraints and pricing issues as key barriers.
Furthermore, the committee will monitor pipeline repairs, drive settlement of outstanding debts and address commercial and operational barriers limiting gas availability to power plants. Adelabu also charged members to provide proactive, data-driven recommendations on payment guarantee mechanisms and held them accountable for regular reporting and measurable milestones.
Broad stakeholder representation in the panel
The gas power committee draws members from the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Independent System Operator, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Association of Generation Companies, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Nigerian Gas Association and consumer advocacy groups.
Additionally, the Director of Distribution, speaking on behalf of Permanent Secretary Mahmuda Mamman, said the committee’s mandate aligns with the minister’s directive to urgently address gas supply barriers. He urged members to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, expressing confidence the panel would strengthen stakeholder collaboration and deliver practical solutions for the power sector.
