Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria’s electricity grid collapsed on Tuesday morning, plunging the country into another nationwide blackout, with power supply to all 11 electricity distribution companies dropping to zero megawatts.
Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and industry sources showed that as of 10:54 a.m. on January 27, Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola distribution companies were all receiving 0 megawatts, indicating a total system failure.
The grid reportedly went down at about 9:53 a.m. following a system-wide disturbance that caused multiple transmission lines to trip and several generating units to disconnect.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelConfirming recovery efforts, TCN announced that “RESTORATION IN Progress!”, as engineers began measures to gradually bring the grid back online.
READ ALSO : National Grid Collapse Again Exposes Fragility of Nigeria’s Power Sector
By late morning, about 90 megawatts had been restored, with power returning to parts of Abuja, Lagos and other locations by early afternoon, although the system had yet to achieve full stability as investigations continued.
Tuesday’s collapse is particularly notable as it is the second nationwide blackout in just a few days, following a similar grid failure on January 23, 2026. The back-to-back incidents have reignited concerns over Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges, including aging infrastructure, gas supply shortages and operational inefficiencies.
Despite an installed generation capacity estimated at over 13,000 megawatts, Nigeria’s dependable electricity output remains around 4,500 megawatts for a population exceeding 200 million.
Reacting to the latest blackout, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong reiterated his recent warning on national television: “As I predicted on Channels TV yesterday, the National Grid has collapsed again, the second time this year. We await the third collapse. Since 1960, we haven’t been able to fix power. Shame of a country!”
Power sector authorities have yet to provide a full technical explanation, but restoration continues as the system remains under close monitoring.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
