By Danjuma Amodu | January 24, 2026
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has revealed that Friday’s national grid collapse was triggered by a system-wide disturbance caused by the tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines and the disconnection of some generating units.
According to NISO data, load allocation to 11 electricity distribution companies dropped to zero megawatts at 1 p.m., marking the first grid collapse of 2026.
In a statement following the incident, the operator said power generation had dropped to zero MW at about 12:40 p.m., resulting in a total outage across the interconnected network. “Preliminary operational reports indicate that the disturbance was associated with the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines, alongside the disconnection of some grid-connected generating units,” it said.
“These events collectively contributed to the system collapse at the time indicated.” The operator said power restoration was underway, with electricity supply already restored to key cities, including Abuja and Lagos, following the grid collapse.
“Following the outage, system restoration activities commenced at about 1:15 p.m., in accordance with established grid restoration and recovery procedures,” it added. “As of the time of this update, electricity supply has been successfully restored to Abuja, Osogbo, Benin, Onitsha, Sakete, Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro, and parts of Lagos, while restoration efforts are continuing progressively in other parts of the country.”
NISO added that a detailed investigation into the causes of the grid collapse is ongoing, with full restoration and stabilisation of the grid remaining a top priority.
