National grid collapses again, plunges Nigeria into darkness with generation at 24MW

Nigeria’s electricity system experienced another major failure on Wednesday as the national power grid collapsed, causing widespread blackouts across the country and disrupting economic and social activities.

Electricity generation plummeted from over 4,500 megawatts earlier in the day to a critical low of 24MW by approximately 1:30pm, representing one of the most severe drops in recent times.

Data from industry sources indicated that all 23 power generation plants connected to the grid lost output simultaneously, resulting in zero power being allocated to the nation’s 11 distribution companies.

Consequently, millions of households, businesses, and essential services were left without power, forcing reliance on alternative sources like generators.

The exact cause of the collapse had not been officially disclosed at the time of reporting, with officials from the Transmission Company of Nigeria yet to release a detailed statement or restoration timeline.

This incident is the first national grid failure recorded in 2026, following a similar nationwide blackout on December 29, 2025.

Nigeria’s grid has suffered recurrent partial and total collapses in recent years, frequently blamed on technical faults, weak transmission infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and generation fluctuations.

Power experts have consistently warned that the grid is overstretched and vulnerable, emphasizing that without substantial investment in transmission upgrades, automation, and system protection, such failures will persist.

Stakeholders continue to urge the government and operators to implement stronger grid stability and contingency measures, including decentralized power solutions and improved sector coordination.

The repeated collapses heighten concerns over Nigeria’s ability to ensure reliable electricity, posing a challenge to goals of economic diversification, industrial growth, and attracting foreign investment.

As citizens await official explanations and restoration, the latest collapse has again highlighted the country’s enduring power sector crises.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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