Nigeria was plunged into widespread darkness on Monday after the country's national electricity grid suffered another major collapse, severely disrupting power supply across the nation.
Official data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) revealed a catastrophic drop in power generation within a single hour. Output fell sharply from 2,052.37 megawatts at approximately 2:00 pm to a mere 139.92 megawatts by 3:00 pm, signaling a total system failure.
Only Three Distribution Companies Receive Power
The collapse had an immediate and severe impact on electricity distribution. Out of Nigeria's eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos), only three managed to receive any power allocation during the crisis.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) recorded the highest load at 80MW, while the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Benin DisCo each received 20MW. All other DisCos, including Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola, were left with zero allocation, leaving millions of consumers without electricity.
Ongoing Challenges and a History of Failures
As of the time of reporting, power sector authorities had not provided an official statement on the cause of the latest grid failure or a timeline for full restoration. This incident echoes a similar collapse that occurred just three months prior, which saw supply to DisCos drop to as low as 120 MW and plunged major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt into total blackout.
The sector continues to grapple with deep-rooted issues. NISO has previously cited pipeline vandalism as a critical factor affecting gas supply to power generation plants, forcing the operator to activate contingency measures. Beyond infrastructure sabotage, the electricity industry is burdened by poor investment, mounting debt, electricity theft, and persistent technical challenges.
Nigeria's Struggle with Electricity Access
These recurrent grid failures starkly highlight Nigeria's ongoing battle to provide stable and reliable electricity to its citizens. Reports indicate that over 90 million of Nigeria's estimated 230 million people live without access to electricity, the highest number for any country globally.
This reality places Nigeria far behind several other African nations in electricity access. Countries like Kenya, Gabon, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal have achieved universal or near-universal electricity access through decades of sustained state-led planning and investment, a feat Nigeria has yet to accomplish amidst its recurring power crises.
