Concerns are growing that Nigeria may be experiencing a resurgence of frequent power outages, as the national electricity grid has collapsed three times in less than a month.
Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) attributed the disruptions to low power generation but rejected suggestions that the sector is reverting to the era of near-constant grid failures.
The latest collapse occurred on Tuesday, January 27, marking the second time in four days and the second incident in January 2026. The grid also failed on December 29, 2025, and earlier on January 23, 2026.
Grid collapses were almost a monthly occurrence in 2024, though the situation improved in 2025, with only two major incidents recorded. However, two collapses in four days—and three in under a month—have raised alarms among stakeholders in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
According to The PUNCH, power generation fell sharply from 3,825 MW at 10:00 am on Tuesday to just 39 MW at 11:00 am. Peak generation had reached 4,762 MW at 6:00 am. During the collapse, load allocation to DisCos dropped to 0.00 MW, meaning no electricity was being delivered.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company issued a statement to customers, saying:
“Dear valued customers, we regret to inform you that there is currently a loss of power supply across our franchise area. Our technical teams are working closely with relevant stakeholders to restore power as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience.”
Similarly, the Port Harcourt DisCo appealed for calm, noting that the outage was due to a grid collapse and assuring customers that efforts were underway to restore supply.
Speaking to reporters, DisCos spokesman Sunday Oduntan acknowledged concerns about the recent disruptions but insisted that the sector is not returning to the frequent failures of the past. He explained that while NISO and other stakeholders are improving grid management, low power generation remains the main challenge.
“We are not going back to the days of incessant grid collapses. Look at how quickly the recent incidents were fixed compared to 2024. That shows progress. But low generation is the bane of our challenge; it is the main reason the grid is collapsing in 2026. This needs to be addressed urgently,” Oduntan said.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that the Tuesday incident began at the Gombe Transmission Substation around 10:48 am. The voltage disturbance quickly spread to Jebba, Kainji, and Ayede Transmission Substations, causing some transmission lines and generating units to trip. NISO described it as a partial system collapse rather than a full grid failure.
“Corrective actions were immediately implemented, and by 11:11 am, restoration was completed. Electricity supply across affected areas has since returned to normal,” NISO stated.
The recurring incidents highlight ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, including the need for investment in transmission infrastructure, improved grid stability, and rapid response mechanisms to minimise disruptions for millions of households and businesses dependent on reliable electricity.
