The Federal Government has blamed the recent electricity outages affecting Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and two other areas on scheduled maintenance at Egbin Power Station, gas supply challenges and the sabotage of critical transmission lines.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this in a statement shared on Facebook on Friday, explaining that the challenges had reduced electricity generation on the national grid, forcing operators to ration power supply in affected locations.

Tegbe said the first set of affected generating units was expected to resume operations within 48 to 72 hours, while other units would return to service gradually.

According to the minister, scheduled maintenance at Egbin Power Station, coupled with inadequate gas supply to some thermal power plants, had significantly reduced the volume of electricity available for distribution across the country.

He stated, “Planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and constraints in gas supply to some thermal power stations have reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid.”

The minister also identified the sabotage of major transmission infrastructure as another factor worsening the power situation, explaining that the damage had limited the ability of operators to redirect electricity through alternative transmission routes.

He specifically noted that the situation had affected electricity supply to some locations, particularly Lagos.

“Sabotage of key transmission lines has also restricted the use of alternative routes to supply some locations, especially Lagos,” Tegbe added.

The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was working with relevant stakeholders in the electricity sector to address the challenges.

He said efforts were underway to improve gas deliveries to power generation companies and accelerate repairs to damaged transmission infrastructure.

Tegbe apologised to households and businesses affected by the outages, promising that the ministry would continue to provide updates as electricity supply gradually improves.

Meanwhile, on November 4, the minister directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and electricity distribution companies to urgently resolve operational challenges responsible for the decline in power generation.

The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed all its affiliate unions to embark on a three-day sympathy strike in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local governments in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The directive was announced in a statement jointly signed by the NLC State Chairperson, Christopher Abimbola Arapasopo, and the State Secretary, Victor O. Amusan.

The labour union explained that the industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government over the unresolved dispute concerning local government funds.

According to the congress, the authorities failed to address its demands despite the ultimatum, leaving the labour movement with no option but to proceed with the planned industrial action.

The NLC disclosed that the decision was reached during an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council (SEC) held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

In the statement, the congress said, “Following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and Osun State Government over the continued withholding of Local Government statutory allocations, the Congress regrets to inform all affiliate unions that the issues raised remain unresolved.”

It added that all affiliate unions under the Osun State Council had been directed to participate in the three-day sympathy strike in line with the resolutions reached at the emergency meeting.

The industrial action is scheduled to commence at midnight on Sunday, November 8, and end at midnight on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

The congress directed all affiliated unions to formally notify their members of the decision and ensure strict compliance across their respective workplaces throughout the strike period.

It also warned that any union that deliberately disregards or works against the directive would face disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the congress’s regulations.

The labour body maintained that the difficulties being experienced by members of NULGE were a concern for the entire labour movement, stressing the importance of solidarity in defending workers’ welfare and rights.

“The continued hardship confronting our comrades in NULGE is a collective concern of the entire labour movement, and our response must reflect our shared commitment to workers’ rights, dignity, welfare and economic security,” the statement read.

The NLC consequently urged all affiliate unions to demonstrate maximum commitment to the industrial action, reaffirming its determination to protect the rights, dignity and welfare of workers across Osun State.

The Federal Government has announced that its ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) programme is open to vulnerable households across all six geopolitical zones, including the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The clarification was issued by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet Mcdickson Noah, on Friday, following questions from Nigerians about the geographical coverage and eligibility requirements for the financial assistance.

The ministry explained that the programme covers all states in the South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West regions of the country.

In the South-West, the beneficiary areas include Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

The South-East coverage comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, while the South-South includes Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

For the North-Central region, the programme covers Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, alongside the FCT.

The North-East states included are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, while the North-West comprises Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

Who Qualifies For The ₦50,000 NERSI Grant?

According to the ministry, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with eligibility determined by poverty levels and vulnerability.

The government stressed that the intervention is designed to support households facing financial difficulties due to the rising cost of living.

Each successful beneficiary will receive ₦50,000, which the government emphasised is a grant and not a loan.

It also assured Nigerians that recipients would receive the full amount without deductions.

The ministry added that the selection process covers all six geopolitical zones and is not influenced by religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

How Beneficiaries Can Confirm And Receive The Money

The Federal Government explained that payments would be released in phases, meaning beneficiaries might not receive notifications at the same time.

It clarified that failure to receive a text message immediately does not automatically mean an individual has been excluded from the programme.

According to the statement, phone numbers used for notifications were obtained from the same verified records used during the selection process.

The ministry also assured Nigerians that their personal information would be protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

It warned beneficiaries against fraudsters, stressing that no government official or authorised payment provider would request their Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP) or Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Successful applicants will receive text messages from one of five approved payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

The notification will identify the selected payment provider and contain a USSD code that beneficiaries can dial to accept the financial assistance.

The ministry further disclosed that beneficiaries could independently dial their provider’s USSD code and select the option for checking their eligibility.

It advised Nigerians to ensure that any notification they receive comes from the official sender names of the approved payment providers.

The government urged selected recipients to follow the instructions in their messages and accept the grant to activate their mobile wallets, after which the ₦50,000 would be credited.

It emphasised that receiving a notification alone does not guarantee payment, as beneficiaries must first accept the offer.

The ministry added that anyone who mistakenly rejects the offer by selecting ‘No’ can dial the USSD code again and change the response to ‘Yes’.

However, those who leave their responses on ‘No’ will not receive the payment.

It also clarified that beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet access to complete the process, as the USSD service works on basic mobile phones.

Customers of MoMo PSB, OPay and Moniepoint can equally access their wallets through the providers’ official mobile applications.

How To Withdraw The ₦50,000 NERSI Grant

The Federal Government stated that beneficiaries could withdraw their funds through Point-of-Sale (POS) agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets.

Recipients can withdraw the entire ₦50,000 or take out only part of the money while leaving the remaining balance in their wallets.

The ministry also explained that beneficiaries could transfer the funds to any bank account, including another person’s account, using USSD or their payment provider’s application.

It warned Nigerians that accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to official programme messages are completely free.

The government urged beneficiaries not to pay anyone for access to the intervention or to secure a place on the list, warning that such demands could be fraudulent.