ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s electricity generation plunged from approximately 3,840 megawatts (MW) at 7 a.m. to 476.70MW by 1 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, as power outages and reduced electricity supply were reported in parts of the country.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that generation fell by 3,363.30MW, representing a decline of about 87.6 per cent within six hours. The sharp drop reportedly began around 12:40 p.m.
The decline left several major power stations, including Egbin, Jebba, Shiroro and Kainji, recording zero output during the period. Only a handful of generating stations, including Odukpani NIPP, Omotosho and Sapele, continued contributing electricity to the national grid, according to reports based on NISO’s generation dashboard.
Electricity consumers reported interruptions between approximately 12:45 p.m. and 1:20 p.m., while distribution companies acknowledged supply challenges across their networks.
Ikeja Electric attributed reduced electricity supply hours across its network to a shortfall in the amount of power allocated to it from the national grid. The company said it was engaging relevant stakeholders to improve available supply.
In Abuja, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company attributed outages affecting some communities to a technical fault, while the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company reported transmission network restrictions affecting parts of Ogun State.
However, the reported outages were not all conclusively linked to the sharp decline in national generation, as distribution companies cited different causes for disruptions in their respective areas.
Despite the dramatic fall in recorded generation, NISO dismissed claims that the incident amounted to a national grid collapse, insisting that there was no system-wide disturbance.
A senior NISO official, speaking anonymously, suggested that the reported interruptions could have resulted from localised issues or equipment tripping. The official said the operator had directed its technical team to investigate possible abnormalities.
The incident has renewed concerns about the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity supply, which continues to face challenges involving generation, transmission and distribution.
The Federal Government has recently approved plans to develop new eastern and western power grids as part of efforts to improve system stability and reduce the effects of recurring disruptions. A new National Control Centre is also under construction in Osogbo, Osun State, to strengthen grid monitoring and response capabilities.
As of the reports published on Monday afternoon, the precise cause of the sharp decline in generation had not been officially established.
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