The nation’s electricity grid suffered a total collapse on Friday, marking its first major system failure this year and leaving millions without power.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that national power generation plummeted to zero megawatts (MW) in the early afternoon. Consequently, load allocation to the country’s eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos) also dropped to zero MW as of 1 p.m.
All DisCos including Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, and Yola recorded zero allocation, indicating a widespread blackout.This incident echoes a troubled recent history for the national grid, which collapsed multiple times throughout 2025.
The last recorded failure occurred on December 29 of that year.The persistent collapses continue despite ongoing efforts to upgrade and stabilize the network. Just last November, the NISO announced a partnership with the West African Power Pool to conduct synchronization tests aimed at integrating Nigeria’s grid with a regional network.Furthermore, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) had recently reported adding 450 MW of generation capacity back to the grid after scheduled maintenance on the Geregu power plant, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining a reliable power supply.
Officials have yet to announce an estimated time for full restoration of the grid.
