Nigeria’s national electricity grid experienced its first total system collapse of 2026 on Friday, causing a widespread power outage across several parts of the country.
Data released by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that electricity generation dropped to zero megawatts at about 1:00 p.m., leading to a complete loss of supply to all 11 electricity distribution companies nationwide.
The affected distribution companies include Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja and Yola, each of which recorded zero load allocation at the time of the incident.
The latest collapse comes amid lingering concerns over the stability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, following multiple grid failures recorded throughout 2025. The most recent breakdown before Friday’s incident occurred on December 29, 2025.
Despite sustained efforts by authorities to reinforce and expand the electricity network, system instability has remained a recurring challenge, disrupting supply to homes, businesses and critical services.
In recent weeks, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) announced the addition of 450 megawatts to the national grid after completing maintenance work at the Geregu National Integrated Power Project. The move was expected to boost generation capacity and improve supply reliability.
Additionally, NISO disclosed that on November 9, 2025, it partnered with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre to conduct a synchronisation test aimed at integrating Nigeria’s grid with the wider West African electricity network, a step seen as crucial to enhancing regional power stability.
As of the time of reporting, details on the cause of the collapse and the timeline for full restoration of power had not been officially announced.
