Nigeria encountered another extensive blackout on Friday due to a partial collapse of the country’s electricity grid, leading to widespread power outages in several cities. The grid failure was attributed to a breakdown in the system of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), shedding light on the ongoing challenges with power infrastructure and maintenance.
The recent collapse was officially confirmed by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), which reported a system outage around 2:00 p.m. on Friday. In a statement, the company stated, “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 07/03/2025, at 14:00 hours, affecting supply within our network. Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.”
Similarly, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) also acknowledged the situation, citing a decrease in power allocation from TCN as the root cause. EKEDC mentioned, “The current power situation is due to reduced power allocation from our TCN partners aimed at maintaining grid stability. The situation has resulted in unavoidable load shedding across our network,” assuring customers that efforts are being made to restore supply.
Third Electricity Collapse in Nigeria in 2025
This incident marks the third significant blackout in Nigeria in 2025, with the previous one occurring on February 12. In 2024, the country faced 12 system collapses, bringing the total number of outages to over 100 in the past decade. The frequent power failures continue to raise concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s electricity sector, which has been grappling with challenges despite various government interventions aimed at reform.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has been plagued by persistent infrastructure deficiencies, aging transmission lines, and insufficient power generation capacity. Despite assurances of improved service post the privatization of power distribution in 2013, many Nigerians still endure erratic electricity supply, compelling businesses and households to resort to expensive alternative energy sources like generators and solar power.
As frustration mounts among citizens and businesses due to unreliable power supply, there are renewed calls for urgent reforms to stabilize the national grid and enhance overall electricity generation and distribution. Currently, millions of Nigerians find themselves in darkness, awaiting another round of grid restoration efforts.
