The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has moved swiftly to clarify reports suggesting a collapse of the national power grid, stressing that the disruption in power supply was not caused by a nationwide blackout but by a technical fault in transmission lines.
The clarification comes after a series of viral reports claimed that Nigeria’s power grid had collapsed for the first time in 2025, sending the country into a state of blackout barely two weeks into the year. According to the initial reports, power generation had dropped sharply from 2111.01 megawatts at 2:00 p.m. to just 390.20 MW by 3:00 p.m. These reports had spread across various media outlets, causing alarm among citizens and businesses alike, especially in major cities like Lagos.
A Technical Glitch, Not a National Collapse
In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, TCN General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, strongly denied the claims of a grid collapse, labeling the reports as “misinformation.”
“Contrary to the widely circulated reports, the nation’s power grid did not collapse today,” Mbah said. “The issue was not a collapse but a result of technical faults—specifically, the tripping of transmission lines between Osogbo and Ihovbor, followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line.”
According to TCN, the technical problem affected the power supply to only the Lagos axis, with the tripping of these lines causing a temporary disruption in the distribution of electricity to various parts of the city. Mbah reassured Nigerians that the situation was under control and that power generation had already been restored to normal levels in most areas.
Detailed Explanation of the Incident
TCN’s statement provided further technical details to back up their claims. At 1:41 p.m. on Saturday, the Osogbo-Ihovbor line tripped, followed by the Benin-Omotosho line shortly afterward. This disruption resulted in a noticeable dip in the power generation level, which dropped from 4,335.63 megawatts before the tripping to 2,573.23 megawatts afterward.
Despite the drop in power generation, Mbah emphasized that this was not a collapse of the grid. He said, “It is important to clarify that while power generation was affected, it was not a collapse. The situation is being actively managed, and power is being restored to affected areas.”
The affected power plants—Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras—were quickly brought back online, with the exception of the Benin-Omotosho 330kV line, which is still undergoing repairs.
Lagos Faces Power Woes Amid Growing Concerns
While the situation has been largely contained, the blackout left many households, businesses, and industries in Lagos grappling with power outages, igniting fresh concerns about the state of Nigeria’s power sector. Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial capital, relies heavily on a steady supply of electricity to power both residential and commercial operations. Frequent disruptions, especially those involving large-scale outages, continue to spark frustration among residents and business owners.
“It is always the same story,” said Grace Adeyemo, a Lagos resident. “One day, it’s a blackout, the next day, another excuse. We need a solution to these constant disruptions.”
Several business owners in Lagos have also expressed concerns over the impact of frequent power cuts on their operations, which often require them to rely on expensive backup generators. “These outages cost us time and money,” said Tony Ojo, a small business owner. “The inconsistent power supply is affecting our productivity and increasing overhead costs.”
Power Sector Challenges and TCN’s Role
Nigeria’s power sector has faced longstanding challenges, from inadequate generation capacity to aging infrastructure and inefficient transmission systems. The power grid, often described as fragile, has been prone to system failures, which sometimes result in widespread blackouts across the country.
In recent years, the Nigerian government has made efforts to address these challenges, including plans to privatize the electricity sector and invest in upgrading the national grid. However, frequent technical issues such as tripped transmission lines continue to hinder progress.
TCN, which is responsible for managing the national grid, has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to improving the power transmission network. The company has also stated that the current issues with the grid are being addressed through a series of ongoing maintenance and repair works.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria is committed to ensuring the stability and reliability of the national power grid,” Mbah noted in her statement. “We are constantly working on upgrading our infrastructure and resolving technical issues that arise from time to time.”
Public Reassurance and Future Measures
In a bid to reassure the public, TCN stressed that it was closely monitoring the situation and had already begun the process of restoring the affected transmission lines. “We are working around the clock to ensure that power supply is fully restored to all affected areas,” Mbah concluded.
For now, the Lagos outage seems to be under control, with most areas already reporting the return of power supply. However, the incident has reignited broader discussions about the need for more robust solutions to Nigeria’s power challenges.
As the year progresses, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if the government and the power sector can address the persistent issues affecting the national grid. The public is calling for more transparency and accountability from TCN and other stakeholders involved in ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.
In the meantime, the latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure and the urgent need for reforms to ensure that such disruptions do not become a regular occurrence.
