In a statement issued late Thursday, AEDC explained that the collapse of the grid, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), disrupted supply across several parts of the country. “We regret to inform our customers that the current power outage is due to a system collapse of the national grid. Our engineers are on standby and will restore supply as soon as the grid is back online,” the company stated.

The incident marks yet another in a long series of grid failures that have plagued the nation’s power sector. Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that the grid collapsed multiple times in 2024, raising concerns about the stability of the system and the need for urgent reforms.

Electricity users in parts of Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi states expressed frustration over the blackout, which disrupted businesses and domestic activities. Many residents took to social media to complain about the recurring outages, while some small business owners lamented the rising cost of fueling generators to keep operations running.

Experts in the energy sector say the frequent collapse of the grid is linked to inadequate infrastructure, poor maintenance, and rising demand for electricity. They argue that investment in alternative energy sources such as solar and gas is critical to stabilizing supply and reducing dependence on the fragile national grid.