Nigeria’s fragile electricity supply suffered yet another setback on Wednesday as the national grid collapsed, causing a near-total blackout across the country. Power generation dropped dramatically from 2,917.83 megawatts (MW) to just 1.5 MW between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., according to reports from the Nigeria National Grid monitoring platform on X (formerly Twitter). The system operator confirmed that “restoration is in progress,” but most distribution companies were left without supply.
Data released by the grid platform showed that virtually all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) recorded zero load following the collapse, with the exception of Ibadan DisCo, which retained a minimal allocation of 20 MW. This meant that millions of homes and businesses nationwide were abruptly cut off. The situation highlights the country’s continuing struggle with power stability, despite ongoing government promises of reforms and investments in the energy sector.
In a statement, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the collapse, noting that it occurred at around 11:23 a.m. and affected supply across its service areas. “Dear valued customers, please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid… We are working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure power is restored once the grid is stabilized,” the company said.
The latest collapse is part of a recurring pattern that has plagued Nigeria’s power sector for years, undermining economic productivity and worsening public frustration. Grid instability has frequently been linked to infrastructure weaknesses, poor maintenance, and operational inefficiencies. The repeated failures have raised fresh concerns about the country’s ability to achieve reliable electricity access, a key driver for industrial growth and investment.
As restoration efforts continued into Wednesday afternoon, many Nigerians turned to alternative energy sources such as generators and solar systems to power essential activities. With each collapse, pressure mounts on the federal government and regulatory agencies to urgently deliver a long-term solution to the persistent power crisis. Until then, citizens and businesses are left to endure the consequences of an unreliable grid that has collapsed yet again.
