Nigeria's electricity infrastructure continues to face severe challenges, with the national grid experiencing multiple collapses in early 2026, continuing a pattern that has plagued the country for years.
Recent Grid Failures
The first collapse of 2026 occurred on Friday, January 23, when power generation dropped from 3,996.93 megawatts to zero, plunging major cities into darkness. This was followed by a second collapse on Tuesday, January 27, just four days later.
According to data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), all 11 electricity distribution companies experienced zero load allocation during the collapses, affecting millions of Nigerians across Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and other major cities.
Root Causes Identified
Energy expert Sam Caulcrick, author of "Power in Nigeria: Will There Ever Be Light?", attributed the persistent grid collapses to the lack of comprehensive real-time monitoring and control of the transmission network. Speaking to The Guardian, Caulcrick described the problem as a major failure of system management by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The absence of fully deployed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems across the country's transmission lines has left the National Control Centre unable to properly monitor and balance electricity supply and demand in real time.
Historical Pattern
As reported by Punch, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) data shows that between 2010 and 2022, the country suffered at least 222 partial and total collapses. An additional 12 were documented across 2024 and 2025, highlighting the chronic nature of the problem.
Despite an installed capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, the antiquated national grid can barely transmit 5,000MW, with any additional load triggering system collapse. Power failures are estimated to cost Nigeria approximately $1 billion annually.
Calls for Reform
Editorial commentary from Punch emphasized the need for decentralization of power generation, citing the 2023 Electricity Act which enables states to establish their own electricity regulators. Several states including Enugu, Lagos, and Ondo have already established state-level regulators, while others are following suit.
