National Grid Collapses For The First Time in 2026, Drops To 24MW
The national grid collapsed on Friday for the first time this year, cutting power supply across the country.
Data obtained from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that power generation dropped from 4,500 megawattsto 24 megawatts (MW).
According to NISO, all 23 power generation plants connected to the grid reportedly lost output during the incident, resulting in zero power allocation to each of the 11 electricity distribution companies.
The affected distribution companies included Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, and Yola, all of which recorded no electricity allocation during the collapse.
The cause of the collapse could not be immediately determined, and officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria had yet to issue a detailed statement at the time of filing this report.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that this is the first grid collapse recorded in 2026, coming barely weeks after a similar incident on December 29, 2025, which had also caused widespread power outages across the country.
Recall that Nigeria has continued to experience grid collapses in recent years which have been attributed to a combination of technical faults, inadequate maintenance of transmission lines, and fluctuations in generation capacity.
The National Grid has collapsed over 120 times in 11yrs, despite more than $1.4bn electricity loans, per punch. Last year, Nigeria’s Power Minister, Bayo Adelabu said Nigeria would need $10B annually to guarantee stable electricity.
Stakeholders have continued to call on the government and power operators to implement robust contingency measures to prevent recurring failures.
While the public awaits an official explanation, this latest collapse has renewed concerns over Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and its ability to support the growing demand for reliable power.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
