Nationwide blackout as national grid collapses again

Nigeria is bracing for another nationwide blackout as the national electricity grid, managed centrally from Osogbo, Osun State, collapsed around 4:30 pm on Thursday, plunging millions of homes and businesses into darkness.

This marks the fourth collapse of the grid in the first three months of the year.

Reports from distribution companies (DisCos) across the country’s 36 states indicate widespread blackouts as their feeders became inactive due to the grid failure.

With the grid’s output dropping from 2,984 megawatts to zero within an hour, all 21 connected plants ceased operations by 5 pm, painting a grim picture of Nigeria’s electricity woes.

As of reporting at 6:00 pm, the Azura Power Plant was the only facility contributing to the grid, albeit with a modest output of 54 megawatts.

Major power generation plants such as Egbin, Afam, Geregu, Ibom Power, Jebba, Kainji, Odukpani, and Olorunsogo, among others, remained dormant, further exacerbating the electricity deficit nationwide.