Power generation on Nigeria’s national grid climbed back above 4,000 megawatts on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, following a partial system disturbance that caused widespread outages the previous day.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) indicated that by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, total generation stood at 4,384.4MW, with 19 generating companies contributing to the grid. Hydroelectric plants led the recovery, with Zungeru supplying 651MW, Kainji 524MW, and Jebba 515MW.
Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) received a combined allocation of 3,615MW, according to NISO figures. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company took the highest share at 553MW, followed by Ikeja Electric with 546MW and Eko Electricity Distribution Company at 465MW.
The disturbance struck at exactly 2:01 p.m. on Monday, December 29, triggering the tripping of multiple generating units and key 330kV transmission lines. Power output, which had peaked at around 4,800MW earlier that day, plummeted to as low as 139MW by 3 p.m., leaving most parts of the country in darkness.
In a statement, NISO attributed the grid’s heightened vulnerability to lingering effects from the vandalism of the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline on December 10, 2025. The incident disrupted gas supply to several thermal plants, reducing overall generation capacity and weakening system stability.
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“Preliminary reports indicate that the disturbance involved the tripping of several generating units and critical 330kV transmission lines, resulting in a widespread impact on electricity supply across parts of the country,” NISO explained.
However, the Delta power generation complex operated in island mode, maintaining 114MW supply to local substations in Oghara, Amukpe, Benin, and Efunrun areas.
NISO officials at the National Control Centre in Osogbo swiftly implemented recovery protocols, achieving full restoration nationwide by Monday night. “Supply has been fully restored to all parts of the country and the system stability has normalised,” the operator confirmed, adding that investigations into the exact cause are underway to prevent future incidents.
This marks the fourth grid collapse in 2025, according to reports from sources including Daily Post Nigeria and Punch Newspaper, following earlier disturbances in February, March, and September. The recurring issues highlight ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, including ageing infrastructure, gas supply constraints, and transmission limitations.
Established in April 2025 following the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria under the Electricity Act 2023, NISO manages system operations independently to enhance transparency and efficiency. Despite these setbacks, the operator has reported improved grid stability overall in its first year, with fewer disturbances compared to previous periods.
