The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has dismissed reports of a nationwide power grid collapse, attributing a sharp drop in electricity supply on Monday to a localized, partial network disturbance that has since been fully resolved.
The clarification follows an incident around 12:40 pm on Monday, October 19, 2026, when multiple trippings hit the 330-kilovolt (kV) transmission network. The disruption triggered an 87.6 percent plunge in total power generation—dropping from approximately 3,840 megawatts (MW) at 7:00 am down to 476.70 MW by 1:00 pm—and left several major power stations, including Egbin, Jebba, Shiroro, and Kainji, recording zero output.
In an official statement issued by its management on Monday, NISO confirmed that rapid intervention alongside technical teams successfully restored operations across the affected transmission corridors.
“The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the public that at approximately 12:40 hours on Monday, 19 October 2026, the national grid experienced multiple trippings on the 330kV transmission network,” the statement read.
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“Following the incident, NISO, working with TCN, immediately implemented appropriate corrective measures to stabilise the power system and restore normal operations. Restoration efforts have been successfully completed, and the national grid has returned to normal operation.
“NISO wishes to clarify that the incident affected only a section of the grid, contrary to unverified reports and claims currently circulating in the media.”
Despite the swift recovery, the temporary drop highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s high-voltage bulk electricity transmission framework. In response to recurring disturbances, the Federal Government recently approved plans to build new eastern and western regional grid networks to insulate the national power supply from single-point transmission faults.
NISO reiterated its commitment to providing transparent grid operational updates and urged electricity consumers to verify system status reports directly through its official channels.
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