Nigeria’s national power grid collapsed on Friday, plunging parts of the country into darkness and cutting electricity supply to millions of households and businesses.
According to system data, power generation dropped sharply from over 4,500 megawatts to as low as 24 megawatts by 1:30 pm. All 23 generation plants connected to the grid reportedly lost output, resulting in zero allocation to the 11 electricity distribution companies.
This is the first grid collapse recorded in 2026, following a similar incident on December 29, 2025. The cause of the latest failure was not immediately disclosed, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria had yet to issue a detailed statement at the time of reporting.
Figures from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) indicated that power generation fell to zero megawatts, with all distribution companies—including Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, and Yola—recording zero load allocation.
The collapse comes despite recent efforts to strengthen the grid. Earlier, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company announced the restoration of an additional 450 megawatts after maintenance at the Geregu power plant. In November 2025, NISO also conducted a synchronisation test with the West African Power Pool to improve regional grid stability.
Stakeholders have repeatedly called for robust contingency measures to prevent recurring failures, citing technical faults, inadequate maintenance, and generation fluctuations as persistent challenges. The latest incident has renewed concerns over the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.
