Nigeria’s electricity grid operated at only 36% of its installed capacity in January 2026 and experienced frequent instability, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In its Operational Performance Factsheet released on Monday, NERC reported that although the country’s total installed generation capacity is 13,625 megawatts (MW), an average of only 4,901 MW was available for dispatch during the month.
The commission noted that the grid’s frequency—which should stay within 49.75Hz to 50.25Hz for stability—averaged 49.03Hz (lower) and 50.66Hz (upper), exceeding prescribed limits.
Despite the low availability, the Average Load Factor was recorded at 90%, meaning about 4,421 megawatt-hours per hour of available power was dispatched and consumed. This indicates strong demand but highlights limited reserves and system stress.
The report underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, including generation shortfalls and grid instability, which continue to affect electricity supply nationwide.
