Nigeria on Tuesday recorded its first national grid collapse of 2026, throwing homes, businesses, and public institutions across the country into darkness.
Preliminary reports indicate that the grid failure was caused by the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330 kilovolt (330kV) transmission lines, alongside the disconnection of some grid-connected power generating units, leading to a sudden and widespread power outage nationwide.
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said system restoration efforts have commenced, with electricity supply already restored to key locations, including Abuja, Osogbo, Benin, Onitsha, as well as parts of Lagos and Niger states.
In a statement on the development, NISO assured electricity consumers that the recovery process is being carried out progressively, with technical teams working to stabilize the grid and extend power supply to other affected areas.
The operator noted that engineers are carefully re-energising transmission lines and reconnecting generating units to prevent a recurrence, stressing that full restoration will be achieved in phases as system balancing continues.
NISO further appealed for patience and understanding from Nigerians, assuring that all necessary measures are being taken to return the national grid to full operational stability.