Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s national electricity grid collapses on Monday afternoon after major power plants lose generation, plunging large parts of the country into darkness.
Checks confirm that the grid goes down at about 3:00 pm, shortly after power generation peaks at approximately 4,800 megawatts earlier in the day.
Data obtained from the system operator show that generation plunged sharply to about 139 megawatts as of 3:00 pm, indicating a total system failure.
As of the time of filing this report, all 22 power plants connected to the national grid have lost generation, leaving distribution companies unable to supply electricity to customers nationwide.
The cause of the collapse is not immediately confirmed. However, it occurs as the Nigerian Independent System Operator makes efforts to ramp up power generation following recent gas supply constraints linked to pipeline vandalism.
Industry sources say grid instability remains a recurring challenge, often triggered by sudden generation losses, transmission faults, or gas shortages affecting thermal power plants.
Electricity consumers across major cities report widespread outages, with homes, businesses and public infrastructure affected by the blackout.
Grid collapses have continued to raise concerns about the resilience of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, despite repeated assurances by authorities of ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.
Power sector officials say restoration efforts are underway, though no timeline is provided for full recovery.
About the Author
Chukwu Obinna 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 