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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER — Nigeria’s national power grid suffered its first collapse of the year on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, leaving millions of Nigerians without electricity for several hours. The collapse, which occurred at 11:34 a.m., disrupted power supply across the country, affecting homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
According to data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), power generation stood at 4,064 megawatts (MW) at 11 a.m. before plummeting to 1,203 MW by noon. By 1 p.m., the grid had completely collapsed, with generation dropping to 0.00 MW. The sudden outage left many Nigerians frustrated, as the country continues to grapple with persistent electricity challenges.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the collapse in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. “Dear Valued Customer, We regret to inform you that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 11:34 a.m. today, causing a power outage across our franchise areas,” the statement read.
The AEDC assured customers that gradual restoration of power had begun and that it was working closely with relevant stakeholders to stabilize the grid. “While gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, please be assured that we are working closely with relevant stakeholders to fully restore electricity as soon as the grid is stabilized. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to serve you better,” the statement added.
Similarly, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC) also acknowledged the incident on its X account. “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 12th February 2025, at 11:34 a.m., affecting all our feeders. Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders,” the IEDC stated.
This marks the first grid collapse in 2025, following a troubling record of 12 grid collapses in 2024. The frequent collapses highlight the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, which has struggled to meet the energy demands of its growing population.
The national grid, which serves as the backbone of Nigeria’s electricity supply, has long been plagued by issues such as inadequate infrastructure, poor maintenance, and vandalism. Despite efforts by the government and private sector to improve power generation and distribution, the grid remains vulnerable to disruptions.
Wednesday’s collapse has reignited calls for urgent reforms in the power sector. Energy experts have emphasized the need for significant investments in grid modernization, renewable energy integration, and improved maintenance practices to prevent future outages.
“The recurring grid collapses are a clear indication that our power infrastructure is in dire need of an overhaul,” said energy analyst Tunde Oladipo. “We cannot continue to rely on a system that is so prone to failure. The government must prioritize investments in renewable energy and decentralized power systems to reduce the strain on the national grid.”
The collapse also comes at a time when many Nigerians are already grappling with the economic impact of frequent power outages. Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have been hit hard, with many forced to rely on expensive diesel generators to keep operations running.
“This is a major setback for us,” said Lagos-based entrepreneur Funke Adebayo. “We were just recovering from the last grid collapse, and now we’re back to square one. The government needs to find a lasting solution to this problem.”
As of press time, power restoration efforts were ongoing, with some areas reporting partial supply. However, the incident has once again underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s power sector to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply for all.
For now, Nigerians are left to endure the darkness, hoping that this latest collapse will serve as a wake-up call for decisive action.
