Nigerians hit by worsening blackouts as El Niño reduces hydropower
Low gas supply and falling dam output have cut electricity on the national grid just as officials warn of extreme heat.
Power supply across Nigeria has deteriorated sharply as a shortage of gas and falling hydroelectric output reduce the amount of electricity available on the national grid.
The decline in hydropower has been linked to the El Niño weather pattern, which has affected rainfall and water levels at the country's dams. At the same time, gas supply to thermal power stations, which generate the bulk of Nigeria's electricity, remains constrained.
The shortfall comes as officials warn of extreme heat in the weeks ahead, when demand for cooling typically rises. Households and small businesses are bearing the brunt, with many forced to rely on costly diesel and petrol generators or to operate without power. In markets across the south-west, traders have been reduced to working by torchlight after dark.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has long struggled to supply reliable electricity despite substantial gas reserves, and the latest disruption is likely to add to pressure on the authorities ahead of the general election in January.