Nigeria experienced a nationwide blackout on Friday after the national power grid collapsed for the first time in 2026.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that electricity generation dropped to zero megawatts, forcing a total shutdown of power supply across the country. By about 1 pm, load allocation to all 11 electricity distribution companies had fallen to zero.
The affected distribution companies include Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, and Yola, all of which recorded zero power allocation during the outage.
The latest collapse follows multiple grid failures recorded in 2025, with the most recent occurring on December 29, despite ongoing upgrades aimed at improving grid stability and capacity.
Earlier, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) announced the restoration of an additional 450 megawatts to the grid after completing scheduled maintenance at the Geregu National Integrated Power Project plant.
In a related development, NISO disclosed that it conducted a synchronisation test on November 9, 2025, in partnership with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre, as part of efforts to integrate Nigeria’s grid with the regional power network.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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