Nigeria’s already fragile power infrastructure has suffered another major setback as the national power grid collapsed for the second time in 2025, plunging homes and businesses into darkness across Lagos and other major cities. This latest collapse, which occurred at 11:34 AM on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, has renewed concerns about the country’s ongoing electricity crisis, which shows no sign of abating.
The collapse, confirmed by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), left millions without power for hours. “Dear Esteemed Customer, Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 12th February, 2025, at 11:34hrs affecting all our feeders,” the company posted on social media, assuring customers that efforts to restore supply were underway.
The company further emphasized that the disruption was due to a national power grid disturbance, stating that they were “working in collaboration with our critical stakeholders to restore supply.” Despite this reassurance, power had not been fully restored in many areas by the afternoon.
A National Crisis That Refuses to End
This latest blackout marks the 14th major grid collapse in the past 14 months, exacerbating the frustrations of Nigerians who are already grappling with unreliable electricity. According to industry reports, the grid failure saw a dramatic decline in power generation, from 2,111 megawatts to a staggering low of 390 megawatts, leaving vast parts of the country in total darkness.
The situation has once again put a spotlight on the aging and overstretched national grid, which is incapable of meeting the growing demand for electricity in the country’s rapidly expanding cities and industries. In some of the most affected areas, including parts of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States, the blackout disrupted businesses, halted industrial production, and left millions of Nigerians struggling to carry out their daily routines.
“It’s frustrating. We can’t even run our business for more than half the day anymore because of the constant power failure,” said Chidi Okoro, a small business owner in Lagos who sells electronics. “It’s costing us money, and our customers are getting frustrated too.”
Tensions Rise as the National Grid Falters Again
This collapse follows a similar event barely a month earlier, in early January 2025, which had also caused widespread outages and put significant pressure on the national grid system. That incident, reported by SaharaReporters, was Nigeria’s first national grid failure of the year and had the same far-reaching effects on households and industries.
Experts are beginning to raise alarm over the continued instability of the power grid, with many attributing the recurring failures to a combination of outdated infrastructure, technical inefficiencies, and mismanagement by the agencies responsible for power distribution and generation. “The national grid has reached a breaking point,” said Dr. Andrew Essien, an energy consultant based in Lagos. “The network is old, the equipment is frequently malfunctioning, and the demand far exceeds what the grid can handle. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which operates the national grid, has repeatedly stated that it is working on expanding and modernizing the grid. However, progress has been slow, and many critics argue that there has been little visible improvement despite the billions of naira reportedly allocated to power sector reforms over the years.
“We are seeing no real change on the ground,” said Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs. “While we acknowledge the challenges, we are committed to resolving the issues. But the problems are complex, and it will take time to implement lasting solutions.”
The Economic Impact of Frequent Blackouts
The economic toll of these blackouts cannot be overstated. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, already suffers from one of the highest costs of doing business in Africa, in part due to its unreliable power supply. Small businesses are hit hardest, many of which are forced to rely on expensive diesel generators to keep operations going during blackouts.
In a country where over 80% of the population lives in poverty, these frequent grid failures exacerbate the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians. Households without access to steady electricity often resort to using candles, kerosene lamps, or small generators—each of which adds further strain to already tight budgets.
“We’ve been without light since 11 AM, and we have no idea when it’s coming back,” said Nneka Ogbu, a resident of Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos. “It’s not just inconvenient—it’s dangerous, especially when we have to rely on fuel-powered generators that pollute the air. It’s really frustrating.”
A History of Grid Failures and Broken Promises
The situation is nothing new. Nigeria has long struggled with power outages, with the national grid being a constant source of concern for both the government and citizens. Power supply failures are frequent and often last for hours or even days. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has struggled to provide adequate explanations for these outages, leaving Nigerians feeling increasingly helpless.
In November 2024, TCN had reported a partial disturbance in the grid due to a series of “line and generator trippings.” This explanation failed to satisfy many, as such disturbances have been recurring problems. The company claimed that some regions remained unaffected by the disruption, but this did little to ease the frustration felt by those who were left without power.
With the country’s power woes continuing into 2025, Nigerians are growing increasingly impatient. “We’ve heard these same excuses for years,” said Olayemi Ogunleye, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Lagos. “The government promises reforms, but nothing ever changes. The same issues keep repeating themselves. People are losing hope.”
The Government’s Response
The Nigerian government has promised to prioritize the rehabilitation of the country’s power infrastructure, with the Ministry of Power frequently stating that efforts are being made to improve electricity generation and distribution. However, these promises have failed to alleviate the daily suffering of millions of Nigerians, who continue to bear the brunt of the power failures.
“We are fully aware of the challenges and are doing everything in our power to address them,” said Goddy Igbokwe, the Minister of Power. “We are working on plans to improve the grid, but we ask for patience as these changes take time.”
Despite these assurances, many Nigerians remain skeptical. With the second grid collapse of 2025 already underway, and little sign of improvement in sight, the future of Nigeria’s power sector remains uncertain.
