The national grid collapsed on Tuesday morning, causing major power outages and throwing Nigerians into darkness.
TheCable reports that data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator N(ISO) showed that load allocation to the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) dropped to zero MW as at 11 am on Tuesday.
The data revealed that power generation has dropped to 39 MW.
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The development marks the second grid collapse in less than a week. On January 23, the national grid collapsed for the first time this year.
The NISO said the national grid collapse was caused by a system-wide disturbance triggered by the tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines and the disconnection of some generating units.
“Preliminary operational reports indicate that the disturbance was associated with the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines, alongside the disconnection of some grid-connected generating units,” the operator said.
“These events collectively contributed to the system collapse at the time indicated.”
In 2025, the nation’s power grid collapsed multiple times, with the last recorded on December 29.
Nigeria generates only a fraction of the electricity needed for its economy and population. The grid at its optimal operation typically generates between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts, far below the estimated 30,000 megawatts required to adequately serve the country
