FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company has urged electricity consumers in Anambra State to remain patient amid the current power shortages, explaining that the situation is beyond the company’s operational control.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on Thursday in Awka by the company’s Head of Communications, Izunna Okafor.
Okafor said the reduction in electricity supply was linked to nationwide generation challenges rather than any operational shortcomings on the part of the distribution company.
He explained that electricity distribution companies function only at the last stage of the power value chain and are not responsible for generating electricity or determining the volume transmitted to individual states.
According to him, the electricity supplied in Anambra is produced in other parts of the country and delivered through the national grid before reaching interface stations that distribute power within the state.
He noted that whenever power generation drops nationwide, the quantity allocated to distribution companies across the country is automatically reduced.
Okafor said Nigeria had recently witnessed a significant fall in electricity output, largely due to a shortage of natural gas used by thermal power plants that produce most of the electricity on the national grid.
He added that the situation worsened following an explosion on the Escravos–Lagos gas pipeline in December, which disrupted operations at several gas-powered generating plants.
The spokesperson also pointed to the growing financial obligations within the electricity market as another challenge facing the sector.
He said outstanding debts estimated at about N6 trillion owed to power generation companies had weakened their ability to procure sufficient gas needed for optimal power production.
Okafor further explained that international developments affecting energy markets had contributed to increased fuel prices and supply constraints, placing additional pressure on Nigeria’s power generation capacity.
He said because thermal plants depend heavily on natural gas, the shortage had forced some generating units to shut down temporarily or operate below their installed capacity.
Responding to plans by some customers in Anambra to stage protests, the company acknowledged their constitutional right to express grievances but urged them to consider the underlying factors affecting electricity supply.
He explained that protests directed at distribution companies might not address the root causes of the shortage, which are largely tied to generation challenges beyond their control.
Okafor assured customers that FirstPower remained committed to transparency, fair billing practices, compliance with regulatory standards and improved customer engagement in the state.
He added that electricity supply to Anambra would improve once national power generation increases and allocations to distribution companies rise accordingly.