Anger as Nigeria records first grid collapse in 2025

By Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Nigeria has suffered its first grid collapse of 2025, leaving millions of citizens and businesses in darkness and reigniting concerns over the country’s fragile electricity infrastructure.

As of the time of this report, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which manages the national grid, had yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the disturbance or provide details on restoration efforts.

The latest collapse follows a troubling pattern of recurrent grid failures in Nigeria. In 2024 alone, the national grid suffered 11 collapses, with the most recent occurring in December. The persistent instability continues despite the federal government’s claims of significant investments in the power sector.

The nation began 2024 with a January grid collapse that paralyzed economic activities across various sectors. By February 4 and 5, another blackout crippled businesses, leading to substantial revenue losses.

On April 15, another major disturbance hit, causing widespread outages. The situation repeated on August 6, affecting large portions of the country.

October proved to be a particularly unstable month, with blackouts on the 15th, 19th, and 22nd, further highlighting the grid’s fragility.

The most severe incidents occurred in November. On November 5, a total collapse plunged the country into darkness, followed by another failure on November 7, sparking nationwide outrage. Public frustration reached a peak, prompting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to find an immediate and lasting solution to the crisis.

Yet, just a month later, on December 11, 2024, the grid collapsed once again, closing the year on a note of power sector instability.

Despite these persistent failures, Nigerians have faced continuous electricity tariff hikes. In less than a year, rates surged dramatically, adding to the financial burden of consumers:May 2024: Tariff rose from N66 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to N206/kWh; June 2024: Increased to N209.5/kWh And July 2024: Further hike to N225/kWh.

These tariff increases were meant to drive improvements in power supply, yet outages and grid failures remain a major concern.

With the latest grid collapse in 2025, Nigerians are once again left questioning the reliability of the nation’s electricity infrastructure. The federal government and power sector stakeholders face renewed pressure to implement lasting solutions that ensure grid stability, improved electricity generation, and reliable distribution networks.