Ibom Power Company Limited says prolonged gas supply disruptions and outstanding payments from the Federal Government have severely affected operations at its 191-megawatt power plant, leaving the facility largely inactive over the past year.
The company disclosed that it received gas for only about 30 days within the last 12 months, resulting in repeated shutdowns and significantly reducing electricity generation.
Speaking during a media briefing in Uyo, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Camillus Umoh, attributed the situation to unresolved legacy debts owed to electricity generation companies, which he said had weakened the firm’s finances and prevented it from paying for gas supplies and carrying out routine maintenance.
According to Umoh, the Federal Government still owes Ibom Power about N15.7 billion out of a total N28 billion in legacy debts accumulated between 2015 and 2025.
He explained that the company’s gas supplier, Accugas, has stopped providing gas on credit and now requires payment before supply, following years of unpaid invoices.
Ibom Power, commissioned in 2010, relies on natural gas from the Uquo gas field in Akwa Ibom State through a 62-kilometre pipeline. Umoh noted that gas deliveries had steadily declined over the past two years before ceasing completely in June 2026.
He said that even during the limited periods when gas was available, supply volumes were well below the plant’s operational requirements, forcing it to generate below capacity or halt production entirely.
Umoh added that Accugas is also facing infrastructure and investment challenges, making it unable to continue extending credit for gas deliveries.
He said the difficulties facing Ibom Power reflect the broader liquidity crisis in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry, where generation companies are owed trillions of naira for electricity supplied to the national grid.
The managing director disclosed that electricity generation companies are expected to meet with the Federal Government in Abuja to discuss plans for settling outstanding legacy debts across the sector.
While the government has acknowledged about N4 trillion in outstanding obligations to the industry, Umoh said less than half of the amount has so far been covered under the current repayment arrangement.
He expressed hope that the forthcoming discussions would accelerate the settlement of the remaining debts and improve liquidity within the power sector.
