The drop is shown in data sourced from the Nigerian Systems Operations Department of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The data shows that on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, power generation was 1,580.6MW, with the Ikeja Electric getting 237.09MW; Abuja, 181.77MW; Eko, 173.87MW; Benin, 142.25MW; Enugu, 142.25MW, Ibadan, 205.48MW; Jos, 86.93MW; Kano, 126.45MW; Kaduna, 126.45MW; Port Harcourt, 102.74MW; and Yola, 55.32MW.

The decline was also confirmed to Punch by officials of the different electricity distribution companies.

Officials in the power sector also blamed the development on gas pipeline vandalism.

“Gas is vital for power generation and most of the electricity being generated in Nigeria is produced by gas-fired power plants. Both the ministers of power and petroleum have often called on Nigerians to help safeguard these infrastructure, but we keep recording explosions of gas pipelines,” an official told Punch.

“Currently, repairs are ongoing on some of the ruptured pipelines and once they are completed, we believe generation will pick up again,” the official added.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu also told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, March 8 that vandalism had become a serious problem for the power and oil and gas sectors.

----------------------------------------------

See Pulse Photo-News gallery below: