National Power Grid Fails Again, A National Disgrace

By the end of January 2026, Nigeria's national electric grid faced its second collapse, leaving several major cities without power and highlighting ongoing issues within the country's energy infrastructure. This ongoing problem, which appears to be becoming increasingly routine, emphasizes a severe crisis in the power sector and prompts urgent inquiries into planning, responsibility, and the return on substantial public investment.

On December 29, 2025, the grid failed, followed by another breakdown on January 23, 2026, and most recently on January 27. The latest failure came only four days after the previous incident, marking two collapses in one week and three in under a month. For a nation attempting to facilitate economic recovery, this scenario reflects a major setback.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that on January 27, a voltage disturbance originating from the Gombe Transmission Substation was noted at approximately 10:48 a.m. This disturbance quickly affected the Jebba, Kainji, and Ayede transmission substations, resulting in transmission lines and generation units shutting down, which led to what NISO categorized as a partial system collapse. While NISO claimed the outage was not total and that power was promptly restored, the consequences were significant and felt nationwide.

Debate over whether to label the situation as a “grid collapse” or “grid tripping” diverts attention from the real issue. Nigerians do not deal with technical jargon; they simply endure the darkness that ensues. The repercussions are significant: businesses halt operations, households are affected, and overall productivity decreases regardless of the terminology used to describe the failure. The persistent failures raise alarms about the viability of the power supply.

Experts point to a growing instability within Nigeria's power sector, with such crises contributing to the withdrawal of several businesses from the country. This situation is particularly troubling as the economy is poised to shift from crisis management and stabilization in 2023 and 2025 to a consolidation phase in 2026, where steady electricity must be a prerequisite.

These continual grid failures reveal significant foundational and operational flaws within the transmission network. The brunt of these failures impacts manufacturers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and investors. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has indicated that without immediate systemic changes, Nigeria might face dozens of grid failures in 2026 under the current business model. Such a forecast is alarming for an already burdened economy.

What exacerbates the scenario is the considerable public expenditure with minimal returns. Since the privatisation of the power sector in 2013, the government is reported to have invested over N7 trillion in a bid to enhance electricity provision. However, the nation is still far from achieving a consistent power supply, grappling instead with the same challenges that plagued the pre-privatisation era—persistent grid failures, power outages, insufficient investments, and slow transmission infrastructure expansion. To many citizens, the situation mirrors the failures once attributed to the now- defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

At Daily Trust, we view the recurrent collapse of the national grid as a source of embarrassment, not just for the power sector but for the entire nation. Even more concerning is the sentiment that timely solutions are not being sought, with authorities seemingly more inclined to downplay each episode instead of addressing the root causes directly.

Investors, both locally and internationally, cannot find solace in a system that continually falters without showcasing clear reform efforts.

Further questions remain unresolved. What is the current progress on the Siemens power initiative, which was presented as revolutionary for Nigeria’s electricity supply? Even with ongoing repairs or renewals, there must be temporary strategies in place to prevent the country from being ensnared in a cycle of darkness and embarrassment, as recently experienced across major urban areas.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made a clear commitment during his 2022 campaign: "If I do not deliver consistent electricity in my first four years, do not re- elect me for a second term." This promise requires action rather than mere rhetoric; it must be realized. Nigerians are not demanding the impossible, just operational consistency in the power system.

The government must promptly establish an environment conducive to the active participation of all stakeholders in the power sector to stabilize the grid. Without firm steps being taken, grid failures will symbolize squandered resources, unseized potentials, and a governance failure that Nigeria can’t afford to endure.