Electricity supply disruptions were reported in parts of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State on Monday, October 19, 2026, after Nigeria’s power generation dropped sharply to 476.70 megawatts (MW) from 3,840MW recorded at 7 a.m.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that electricity generation fell by 3,363.30MW, representing an 87.59 per cent decline. The sharp drop reportedly began around 12:40 p.m., leaving several major power plants with zero output.
Among the affected facilities were Egbin, Jebba, Shiroro and Kainji power stations. However, some generating stations, including Odukpani, Omotosho and Sapele, continued to supply electricity.
The decline coincided with reports of power outages from consumers across different locations between approximately 12:45 p.m. and 1:20 p.m.
Despite the disruption, NISO maintained that the incident did not amount to a national grid collapse. The system operator reportedly attributed the situation to possible localised faults and equipment tripping, adding that its technical team would investigate the abnormalities.
Electricity distribution companies also confirmed supply challenges across their respective networks.
Ikeja Electric disclosed that customers in parts of Lagos were receiving fewer hours of electricity because of a reduction in the power allocated to its network from the national grid.
In Abuja, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) attributed outages affecting areas such as Life Camp Extension, Kado Fish Market and Idu Karmo to a technical fault.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reported restrictions on the Ota/Papalanto/Abeokuta 132kV transmission network in Ogun State. The restrictions reduced the electricity available to feeders supplying areas including Ota, Ifo and Abeokuta.
However, it remains unclear whether all the reported outages were directly linked to the sharp decline in national electricity generation, as the distribution companies cited different causes for the disruptions.
CONCERNS OVER NIGERIA’S POWER SUPPLY
The incident has renewed concerns about the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity supply, particularly as the country continues to grapple with unstable generation, transmission limitations and distribution challenges.
The development comes weeks after the Federal Government commenced construction of a new National Control Centre for NISO in Osogbo, Osun State, on September 30, 2026.
The proposed facility is expected to strengthen real-time monitoring of the national grid, improve fault detection and enable operators to respond more quickly to electricity disruptions.
It is also expected to replace the existing control centre, which has reportedly been in operation for 64 years.
However, the new facility remains under construction and is not yet available to support grid operations.
NISO’s investigation is expected to establish the causes of Monday’s sharp decline in electricity generation and identify measures to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
For consumers and businesses already struggling with an unreliable power supply, the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for a more stable and dependable electricity system across Nigeria.
