On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Nigeria’s national grid collapsed once again, causing widespread power outages across the country. This marks the third grid failure in just one week and the eighth collapse this year. Reports from various electricity distribution companies (DisCos) confirmed that the collapse occurred early in the morning, plunging multiple states into darkness. Data from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal indicated that the grid recorded zero megawatts (MW) at 9:10 a.m., leaving the nation with no power allocation​.
Despite efforts by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to restore power, businesses and households continue to rely heavily on generators to maintain operations amid frequent grid failures. The TCN has not yet released a statement on the cause of the collapse. However, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu recently acknowledged that the national grid’s failures are inevitable due to aging infrastructure and insufficient investment in the sector​.
Adelabu has emphasized the need for decentralized regional and state-level power grids to mitigate the impact of national grid disturbances. The 2023 Electricity Act, signed by President Bola Tinubu, supports this initiative by allowing subnational governments to participate in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity​.
The persistent grid failures have exacerbated frustrations across Nigeria, with many attributing the ongoing blackouts to inadequate investment and outdated infrastructure. The latest collapse has disrupted power supply nationwide, affecting both businesses and households. Citizens are now increasingly calling for comprehensive reforms to tackle the country’s energy challenges.
Efforts are underway to restore power, but these incidents have intensified demands for systemic changes in the energy sector. Stakeholders have emphasized the need for greater investment in infrastructure and the decentralization of power grids to prevent nationwide blackouts from a single grid failure. Many are urging for swift action to modernize the energy sector and provide more reliable electricity.​
