Nigeria’s electricity supply has taken another hit as power generation from the national grid dropped sharply, worsening the country’s persistent energy crisis and leaving several communities without electricity.
The grid management authority disclosed the development in a statement posted on its official X account on Friday, reporting a further decline in power output nationwide.
The latest drop continues a troubling pattern of instability on the grid. Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator shows that the system has suffered at least three collapses this year alone, each forcing generation levels to plunge close to zero megawatts and triggering widespread outages.
The reduction in supply has translated into extended blackouts in several areas. Residents in a number of communities say electricity has been unavailable for more than 24 hours.
In Lagos State, the Odogunyan and Odonla districts within the Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area have reportedly been in complete darkness since Thursday morning. The outage has disrupted household activities and slowed economic operations in the affected communities.
Industry data shows that electricity distribution companies collectively received only 2,830 megawatts of power on Thursday, far below national demand. Gas shortages continue to limit generation capacity at several power plants, further tightening supply to homes and businesses.
The situation underscores Nigeria’s long standing electricity challenges. Although the country holds some of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, power generation remains constrained by weak transmission infrastructure, inadequate investment, and recurring grid failures.
Regulatory data shows the country still struggles to deliver consistent electricity above 5,000 megawatts for a population of more than 200 million people, a gap that continues to strain households, industries, and small businesses.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it is pushing ahead with efforts to expand alternative power sources. Authorities recently announced plans to deploy more than 1,000 mini grid projects under a rural electrification programme designed to boost energy access in underserved communities.
The initiative is expected to contribute over 200 megawatts of solar generated electricity to Nigeria’s broader power supply system.
