Nigeria grid generation plunged to 675 megawatts (MW) on Monday, October 19, after disruptions on the national transmission network affected electricity supply and forced several power plants offline.
Data reported showed that generation fell from 3,647MW at noon to 675MW by 1 p.m., representing an 81.5 per cent decline within an hour. The sharp drop raised fresh concerns about the reliability of electricity supply for households and businesses across the country.
The incident also prompted electricity distribution companies, including Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ikeja Electric, to notify customers about reduced supply. However, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) later confirmed that it had restored normal grid operations.
Nigeria Grid Generation Falls as Nine Plants Go Offline
The decline followed a significant reduction in the number of power plants supplying electricity to the national grid. According to reports, the number dropped from 21 plants at noon to 12 by 1 p.m.
Several major generating stations reportedly recorded disruptions, including Azura, Egbin, Jebba and Kainji. The resulting loss of generation left substantially less electricity available for distribution to consumers.
Earlier in the day, generation had reached 4,458MW at 6 a.m. before falling to 3,647MW by noon. The subsequent drop to 675MW represented a loss of 2,972MW within an hour.
Generation later recovered to 2,150MW by 5 p.m., indicating a partial improvement from the afternoon low.
AEDC said a grid-related challenge had disrupted electricity supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The distribution company explained that technical teams were working to restore stability and gradually return electricity to affected feeders.
Similarly, Ikeja Electric attributed reduced supply across its network to a shortage of electricity allocated from the national grid.
NISO Confirms Restoration of Grid Operations
NISO attributed the incident to multiple trippings on the 330-kilovolt transmission network, which occurred at approximately 12:40 p.m. on October 19.
The operator said it worked with TCN to implement corrective measures and stabilise the system. It subsequently announced that restoration efforts had been completed and normal operations had resumed.
NISO also clarified that the disturbance affected only part of the grid, disputing claims that the entire national electricity network had collapsed. It urged Nigerians to rely on official communication channels for accurate updates.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Nigeria’s electricity supply to disruptions affecting transmission infrastructure and power generation. Although operators restored grid operations, the sharp reduction in available electricity caused supply concerns for consumers.
Further attention to grid stability, timely communication and reliable power delivery remains important as households and businesses continue to depend on consistent electricity for daily activities.
