Nigeria is presently facing a power deficit of about 16,000 megawatts, despite awarding electricity generation licences to 40 Generation Companies (GenCos), therefore, Power Distribution Companies (DisCos) have resorted to rationing.

It was discovered on Monday that the country needs no less than 19798MW to achieve sufficiency, according to data obtained from Independent Electricity System Operator. However, as of Sunday, the GenCos had generated just 3860.3MW, leaving a 15,938MW deficit.
The development follows the current nationwide power rationing by DisCos.

As of yesterday, just 16 of 40 GenCos were generating 3860.3MW for the grid, with Egbin Power entirely off the grid. Shiroro Hydro (275.73MW), Kainji Hydro (415MW), and Azura-Edo IPP (420MW) were the largest generators.

Low gas supply to power plants has also hampered generation, as gas companies have claimed a debt of more than $1.3 billion for previous supplies.

Although the government promised at the beginning of the year to pay N1.6 trillion in electricity subsidies to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, the budget only included N450 billion.