Nigeria’s national electricity grid collapsed on Monday, plunging millions into darkness as all 22 power plants connected to the system lost generation. The outage, which occurred around 2:00 p.m., saw power generation drop from a peak of about 4,800 megawatts to just 139 MW by 3:00 p.m.
The cause of the collapse is yet to be confirmed, though it coincided with efforts by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) to ramp up generation following recent gas supply disruptions caused by pipeline vandalism. Restoration efforts began later in the day, with Azura contributing 403 MW, Delta 152 MW, Kainji 120 MW, Okpai 204 MW, and Omotosho 30 MW, bringing total generation to 900 MW as of 6:00 p.m.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) confirmed the outage and urged customers to be patient as repairs continued. NISO explained that the gradual return of affected power plants is a precautionary measure to protect the grid and ensure stable electricity supply to homes, businesses, and industries.
Experts have warned that Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to face structural challenges, including insufficient bulk power supply and dependence on alternative energy by large consumers, which places strain on the national grid. Adetayo Adegbemle, convener of PowerUp Nigeria, called on the Federal Government to reintegrate major consumers into the grid to improve stability and reduce costs for residential users.
This marks the second major grid collapse in 2025. Despite investments in the power sector, reports indicate that the national grid has collapsed over 100 times in the past decade, repeatedly affecting electricity access across the country. NISO and stakeholders are working closely to stabilise the system and prevent further disruptions.
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