written by; Faith Jemosop.
In early 2025, Nigeria’s national power grid suffered its first major collapse of the year, plunging the nation into darkness and reigniting concerns over the country’s electricity infrastructure.
This incident marked the 13th grid failure in just over a year, revealing the persistent challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation in achieving a stable power supply.
On January 11, 2025, power generation in Nigeria plummeted from 2,111 megawatts to a mere 390 megawatts within an hour, leading to widespread blackouts across the country. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the outage to a “partial disturbance of the system,” without providing detailed explanations. This sudden loss of power disrupted daily life, affecting homes, businesses, and essential services.
Several factors contribute to the fragility of Nigeria’s power grid;
1.Aging Infrastructure and Maintenance Challenges
Many transmission lines and substations are over 40 years old and have not been adequately maintained or upgraded. This outdated equipment is prone to failures, especially under fluctuating demand. Additionally, the country faces high transmission losses, with TCN reporting average losses of 7.79 megawatts for every 100 megawatts transmitted.
2.Vandalism and Security Concerns
Vandalism and insecurity further exacerbate the problem. In the past year, TCN recorded 128 attacks on transmission towers and lines, particularly in the northern regions. Notably, the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, a critical infrastructure component, was vandalized in October 2024 and remains unrepaired due to security concerns. This has left the grid overly reliant on a single line, increasing the risk of collapses.
3.Generation vs. Demand
Having installed a generation capacity of 13,500 megawatts, Nigeria often struggles to distribute even a third of this power. The country’s reliance on gas-fired power plants, primarily located in the south, and hydroelectric stations in the north, has proven insufficient for its population of over 200 million. Compounding the issue, Nigeria produces less than 10% of the electricity generated by South Africa, a country with a population a third the size.
4.Financial and Administrative Challenges
Generation companies are owed significant sums, with payment shortfalls hindering their operations. Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have uncovered widespread corruption in power contracts, with substandard materials contributing to frequent equipment failures. Such financial and ethical challenges deter potential investors and stall much-needed reforms.
Read: Transmission Expansion Delays Strain South Africa’s Power Grid
To counter these challenges, the Nigerian government has initiated several measures. A significant policy shift allowed the country’s 36 states to generate and transmit their own electricity, leading states like Lagos to develop independent power markets.
In collaboration with the World Bank, efforts are underway to build 1,000 mini-grids aimed at expanding power access in rural areas. Experts advocate for a more resilient approach that incorporates decentralized energy sources, such as solar mini-grids and home-based systems, to reduce dependence on the fragile national grid and ensure a more stable and inclusive energy supply.
