Nigeria’s electricity generation plunged from about 3,840 megawatts (MW) to 476.70MW on Monday afternoon, triggering power outages in parts of the country.
Data published on the Nigerian Independent System Operator’s (NISO) portal, niggrid.org, showed that generation stood at approximately 3,840MW at 7am before dropping sharply to 476.70MW by 1pm.
The decline began around 12.40pm, when most power plants reportedly recorded zero output. Major stations, including Egbin, Jebba, Shiroro and Kainji, alongside several gas-fired facilities, recorded no electricity generation.
Only a handful of stations, including Odukpani NIPP, Omotosho and Sapele, continued supplying electricity. By 1.23pm, the dashboard showed generation at about 480MW, with only five generating companies recording output.
The sharp decline coincided with reports of power outages, with consumers taking to social media to complain about interruptions between 12.45pm and 1.20pm.
However, NISO dismissed claims that the national grid had collapsed, insisting that there was no system-wide disturbance despite the steep fall in generation.
A senior NISO official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the outages to possible localised issues.
“There is no disturbance at the moment. Probably if something is happening, maybe it is a local issue, but there is nothing on the grid,” the official said.
The official explained that temporary outages or minor trips affecting electricity supply in some areas did not necessarily indicate a national grid collapse.
“Some of these things are tripping or other minor issues that, within minutes, you just see that it is fixed,” he said.
The official added that NISO had directed its team to conduct a quick system check to identify any irregularities.
Monday’s development comes amid recurring grid disturbances that have raised concerns about the reliability of electricity supply to households and businesses across Nigeria.
The Federal Government recently approved plans to develop new eastern and western power grids as part of efforts to address recurring grid failures and improve the stability of the country’s electricity system.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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