Ikeja Electric Plc said the ongoing power outages across Lagos are a direct result of a reduced electricity allocation from Nigeria’s national grid. In a statement posted on the company’s official X account on Friday, the distribution firm apologized to customers for the interruptions and explained that the shortfall is affecting multiple areas within its service network.
The utility disclosed that, to cope with the limited supply, it has begun a controlled load‑distribution programme. The temporary load‑shedding measures are intended to preserve system stability while allocating the available power as evenly as possible among affected feeders and locations. “We sincerely regret the ongoing power supply challenges currently affecting some areas within our network due to reduced power allocation from the grid,” the statement read.
Ikeja Electric added that it is coordinating with stakeholders across the electricity value chain—generators, transmission operators and regulatory bodies—to restore a more reliable supply and mitigate the impact on consumers. The company emphasized that the load‑shedding plan is a short‑term response while it works to secure additional power from the grid.
The supply constraints in Lagos are part of a broader national trend of electricity shortages. Nationwide, gas‑supply difficulties have hampered power generation, leading to lower dispatches from the grid to distribution companies. The situation has persisted despite recent state‑level initiatives aimed at reducing dependence on the national grid, such as the promotion of renewable energy projects and private power plants.
Industry analysts note that the grid’s limited allocation reflects deeper challenges in Nigeria’s energy sector, including under‑investment in gas infrastructure, financing gaps for new generation capacity and regulatory bottlenecks. For Lagos, which consumes a significant share of the country’s electricity, prolonged outages can affect businesses, households and essential services, underscoring the importance of diversifying the city’s energy sources.
Ikeja Electric has not provided a timeline for when the load‑shedding will end, but it pledged to continue engaging with relevant parties to improve supply reliability. Consumers are advised to monitor official communications for updates on power restoration schedules.
