Nigerians have reacted angrily to the latest collapse of the national electricity grid, describing it as a national embarrassment and further evidence of systemic failure in the country’s power sector.
DAILY POST reports that Nigeria’s national grid collapsed on Friday, plunging large parts of the country into total blackout. This marks the first grid failure recorded in 2026.
Figures released by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that power generation dropped to zero megawatts at about 1 p.m., while electricity supply to all 11 distribution companies (DisCos) was completely cut off.
According to NISO, the affected DisCos include Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja and Yola, all of which recorded zero load allocation at the time of the collapse.
Reacting to the development, many Nigerians expressed frustration over what they described as the frequent and unresolved collapse of the national grid.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Paul Igbashangev said it was disheartening that Nigeria continues to experience such failures at this stage of its development.
“It’s quite unfortunate that our country is always talking about national grid collapse. The frequent grid failure is a serious concern, and we hope the authorities will find a lasting solution. It is affecting businesses and households alike,” he said.
Another respondent, Iwuchukwu Ike, lamented that nothing appears to be working under the current administration.
“The national grid has collapsed again? It’s painful that this happens almost routinely. Since this administration came on board, it has been one drama after another,” he said.
He also recalled how former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, was mocked by supporters of the ruling party after visiting Egypt to study its power sector reforms.
“Now see where we are,” he added.
Ngozi Ikechukwu described the situation as unbearable amid the prevailing economic hardship.
“These are the same people who promised heaven on earth. How can we still be battling national grid collapse when the year has just started?” she queried.
Mustapha Audu, on his part, suggested that the Federal Government should explore Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) solutions to stabilise electricity supply.
“A country of over 200 million people experiencing nationwide blackout without any natural disaster is a shame. The government should adopt CNG-based power solutions to end this embarrassment,” he said.
Adamu Yusuf alleged that vested interests may be exploiting the situation for selfish gains.
“There is nothing serious about these frequent grid collapses anymore. Some people are playing politics with it to make money. A national grid is supposed to last years without collapsing, but this has become business as usual,” he said.
Another respondent, Adah Joseph, warned that the constant grid failures are hurting Nigeria’s economy.
“The effects are devastating. Businesses, especially food-related ones that rely on refrigeration, are suffering. Health facilities are also affected. This has implications for our GDP,” he said, urging the government to prioritise the power sector.
Augustine Oyiwona called for massive investment in transmission infrastructure, noting that many transmission lines and substations are over 40 to 50 years old.
“Manual systems should be replaced with modern real-time grid monitoring. The Transmission Company of Nigeria should be run as a technical utility, not like a ministry desk. State governments should also be empowered to generate, transmit and distribute power as provided by law,” he said.
Paul Igbadi summed up the frustration of many Nigerians, describing the situation as “total negligence on the part of the government.”
The latest collapse has once again reignited public debate over the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.
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