Nigeria’s power sector suffered a setback on Wednesday following the total collapse of the national electricity grid, leaving several parts of the country in darkness.
The grid, which has long been plagued by instability, dropped precipitously from a generation capacity of 4,500 megawatts (MW) to a mere 120 MW, according to real-time data from the National System Operator (NSO).
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the system failure in a public notice, stating that the collapse occurred at approximately 11:23 a.m. and resulted in a complete loss of supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“Please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid,” the AEDC announced. “This is affecting electricity supply across our franchise areas.”
The utility added that efforts were underway in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to restore power once the grid stabilizes.
Only Four DisCos Receive Limited Power
As of 1:10 p.m., only four out of Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) were receiving power, with a combined 120 MW available — a fraction of the country’s installed generation capacity of over 12,000 MW, and far below the 4,000–5,000 MW typically distributed on a regular day.
Breakdown of current power allocation:
- Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) – 50 MW
- Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) – 40 MW
- Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) – 20 MW
- Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) – 10 MW
The remaining seven DisCos — including Ikeja, Eko, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Port Harcourt, and Yola — reported zero power allocation, resulting in total blackouts across their service areas.
This latest power grid collapse adds to a long list of system collapses that continue to cripple Africa’s largest economy, affecting industrial output, commerce, and everyday life.
