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Nigeria grid collapse forces nationwide blackout as power generation falls to zero, disrupting businesses and daily life.

Nigeria experienced a nationwide power outage on Friday after the national electricity grid collapsed, pushing the country into darkness and disrupting daily activities across multiple sectors.

Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that electricity generation dropped to zero megawatts at about 1:00 pm, signalling a total system shutdown.

Following the collapse, electricity distribution companies were compelled to suspend supply nationwide. Many households and businesses reported losing power shortly after midday, bringing operations to a halt in several locations.

Major distribution companies affected included those serving Abuja, Lagos (Eko and Ikeja), Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Yola, and other cities, all of which recorded zero power allocation.

The shutdown highlights the scale of the failure and its immediate impact on economic and social activities across the country.

What the Official Data Shows

According to NISO records:

• Power generation fell to 0MW around 1:00 pm
• Distribution companies shut down supply nationwide
• Consumers experienced blackouts shortly after midday
• Multiple DisCos recorded zero electricity allocation

This confirms a complete collapse of the national grid rather than a partial system failure.

While the exact cause of Friday’s outage was not immediately disclosed, similar incidents in the past have been linked to several recurring issues. 

These include limited generation capacity, transmission bottlenecks, unstable grid frequency, gas supply constraints, and technical faults within the transmission network.

Despite ongoing reforms and the recent unbundling that led to the creation of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, experts continue to point to deep structural weaknesses in transmission and distribution infrastructure.

This latest incident adds to a growing list of grid collapses recorded in recent years. In September and again in March, Nigeria experienced similar system failures that left large parts of the country without electricity.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that the grid suffered several partial and total collapses in 2024, raising persistent concerns about reliability.

The federal government has previously attributed frequent grid failures to the inability of electricity distribution companies to absorb available power, leading to system instability.

Grid collapses are typically followed by a phased restoration process, with power generation gradually increased to stabilise the system. 

Until supply is fully restored, many electricity users depend on generators and inverters to meet basic needs.

Power sector stakeholders continue to call for urgent investment in transmission infrastructure, better system coordination, and improved grid management to reduce the frequency of nationwide blackouts.