The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has attributed Friday’s nationwide power outage to a major disturbance on the transmission network, caused by the failure of several high-voltage lines and the shutdown of some power plants.
According to data released by the operator, electricity supply to 11 distribution companies fell to zero megawatts (MW) around 1 pm, marking the first national grid collapse recorded in 2026.
In a statement issued after the incident, NISO said total power generation had already dropped to zero by about 12:40 pm, plunging the entire interconnected system into darkness.
“Preliminary operational reports indicate that the disturbance was associated with the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines, alongside the disconnection of some grid-connected generating units,” the operator said.
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“These events collectively contributed to the system collapse at the time indicated.”
NISO explained that recovery efforts began shortly after the outage, with gradual restoration of electricity across major parts of the country.
“Following the outage, system restoration activities commenced at about 13:15 hours, in accordance with established grid restoration and recovery procedures,” NISO said.
“As of the time of this update, electricity supply has been successfully restored to Abuja, Osogbo, Benin, Onitsha, Sakete, Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro, and parts of Lagos, while restoration efforts are continuing progressively in other parts of the country.”
The operator added that investigations into the exact causes of the failure are ongoing, while full restoration and stabilisation of the national grid remain its immediate priority.
