FG Don Launch Gas-to-Power Committee to Tackle Light Wahala

Na serious matter wey dey ground for Nigeria power sector as Federal Government don finally set up one special monitoring committee wey go dey monitor gas supply to power plants. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, inaugurate the committee for Abuja on Thursday, and e talk say na “decisive and strategic step” to solve one of the biggest wahala wey dey hold our electricity generation back.

E yarn say gas-fired plants dey produce about 80 percent of Nigeria light, but the supply dey always cut because of pipeline vandalism, debt wey government owe gas producers, and poor coordination for the sector. Adelabu talk say this committee na sign say government no go gree for the old way again where these problems just dey continue and Nigerians no dey see reliable light.

The committee come from meeting wey Ministerial Power Sector Working Group hold for first quarter of 2026. For that meeting, dem identify key issues like infrastructure gaps, money problems, and pricing challenges wey dey affect gas supply. Now, this new committee go dey monitor and drive the repair of damaged gas pipelines, settle outstanding debts to gas suppliers, and remove other commercial and operational barriers wey dey block gas from reaching power plants.

Adelabu charge the members say dem no go just dey monitor, dem must dey proactive and bring actionable recommendations. “The era of reactive, piecemeal responses must give way to systematic, well-coordinated interventions backed by data, clear timelines and institutional accountability,” the minister talk. E add say dem go hold the committee accountable for measurable progress, with regular reports, clear milestones, and escalation of critical issues wey need government intervention.

The committee members come from different stakeholders across the gas-to-power value chain. Dem include Ministry of Power, Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Association of Generation Companies, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nigerian Gas Association, and consumer advocacy groups. The minister express confidence say with this broad representation, the committee go deliver.

Meanwhile, for another news, Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) announce say dem go cut light for seven northern states—Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe—from April 9 to May 22, 2026. The outage go happen weekly from Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, as dem dey upgrade the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line with Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) fibre optic infrastructure. NISO talk say the upgrade go strengthen grid management and operational efficiency, but customers for the affected states fit experience reduced supply because of network constraints.

At the same time, Presidency defend the approval of N3.3 trillion plan by President Bola Tinubu to settle verified legacy debts wey government owe Power Generation Companies (Gencos) from February 2015 to March 2025. Dem talk say the debt settlement na part of structured reform programme to address financial challenges for the power sector, not reward beyond service delivery. The Presidency explain say after verification, claims reduce by 30 percent from N4.7 trillion to the final negotiated settlement of N3.3 trillion.

For TCN matter, Senior Staff Association of the Transmission Company of Nigeria welcome the reappointment of Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdul-Aziz as Managing Director. Solomon Kigbo, wey represent the association, talk say under Abdul-Aziz leadership, TCN don make steady progress in modernising the national grid through strategic investments in transmission lines, substations, and advanced technologies. Public affairs analyst Alhaji Usman Abdullahi and Barrister Abubakar Usman of Nigeria Youth Patriotic Front also commend TCN for adopting modern technologies and international best practices.

All these moves dey happen as Federal Government also constitute inter-agency technical committee to scrutinise proposed $200 billion integrated gas, power and high-speed rail project wey De-Sadel (Nig.) Limited and China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited submit. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, inaugurate the panel and task members to carry out thorough, objective review in line with national interest.

As Nigerians dey wait to see if this gas-to-power committee go make real difference, the power minister don talk say expectations high. The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, talk say ensuring stable gas supply critical to improving generation capacity and delivering better service to electricity consumers. The question wey remain na whether this committee go finally solve the gas wahala or na another promise wey go end for talk.