Monday, August 17, 2026

Widespread blackout as Nigeria’s epileptic energy grid suffers partial collapse

The grid collapsed due to the partial system failure from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which continues to struggle for maintenance. 

and • March 7, 2025
Power Grid
Power Grid used to illustrate the story (Credit: Nigerian Guardian)

Widespread blackouts again hit Nigeria on Friday after the country’s electricity grid suffered a partial collapse, throwing several cities into perpetual darkness. 

The grid collapsed due to the partial system failure from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which continues to struggle for maintenance. 

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) announced a system outage around 2:00 p.m. on Friday. 

“Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today 07/03/2025, at 14:00 hours, affecting supply within our network. Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders,” the company wrote.

Also, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the development, saying, “The current power situation is as a result of reduced power allocation from our TCN partners aimed at maintaining grid stability. The situation has resulted in unavoidable load shedding across our network.”

The DisCos, however, assured customers that efforts are ongoing with the critical stakeholders to ensure power supply is restored.

TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, however, denied knowledge of a system collapse, stating that there was a power supply where she was.

“We have light here now. What’s wrong with these people now?” she said.

Informing her of one of the notices by one of the DisCos, she said, “Three hours ago? Please send it to me.”

Recently, Nigeria’s power sector has experienced challenges, and despite the federal government’s several attempts to reform it, the results have been slow. 

The latest blackout in Nigeria is the third in 2025, with the last happening on February 12. The country also suffered 12 system collapses in 2024 and over 100 times in 10 years

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