The Nigerian Independent System Operator has announced the restoration of the national grid after multiple trippings on the 330-kilovolt transmission network on Monday, as electricity generation plunged from 3,840 megawatts to about 477MW, raising fresh concerns about the stability of Nigeria’s power system.
NISO said the incident occurred at approximately 12:40pm on October 19 and affected only a section of the grid, insisting that the disturbance did not amount to a nationwide grid collapse.
In a statement signed by its management on Monday, the operator said it worked with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to stabilise the system and restore normal operations.
The statement read, “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.
“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.”
It urged Nigerians to rely on its official communication channels for updates, saying it remained committed to maintaining grid stability, ensuring the reliable operation of the national electricity transmission system and providing timely information to the public.
The announcement came hours after The PUNCH reported that power generation had plunged from approximately 3,840MW at 7am to 476.70MW by 1pm, a drop of about 87.6 per cent.
The report, based on data from NISO’s electricity monitoring portal, said the decline began around 12:40pm, coinciding with complaints of power outages from electricity consumers in parts of the country.
Several major power plants, including Egbin, Jebba, Shiroro and Kainji, alongside some gas-fired stations, were recording zero output on the grid at the time of the reported decline.
Only a handful of generating stations were contributing small amounts of electricity, while the system’s real-time generation reading stood at about 480MW at 1:23pm.
The sharp fall in generation highlighted the vulnerability of electricity supply to disturbances affecting transmission infrastructure and the interconnected operations of power plants.
However, NISO had earlier dismissed claims that the national grid had collapsed, with an official telling The PUNCH that the reported outages could have resulted from local issues.
“There is no disturbance at the moment. Probably if something is happening, maybe it is a local issue, but there is nothing on the grid,” the official said.
The official added, “Some of these things are tripping or other minor issues that, within minutes, you just see that it is fixed.”
The latest incident comes amid recurring electricity grid disturbances that have disrupted supply to homes and businesses, despite government efforts to improve transmission capacity and strengthen the power system.
The federal government has recently approved plans to develop new eastern and western power grids as part of efforts to address recurring failures and improve the reliability of electricity transmission.
Nigeria’s electricity supply depends on the coordinated operation of generating plants, transmission infrastructure and distribution networks.
A fault on a transmission line can trigger protective mechanisms that disconnect equipment to prevent further damage, potentially reducing the amount of electricity delivered to the grid.
The 330kV network forms a critical part of the country’s high-voltage transmission infrastructure, carrying bulk electricity from generating stations towards distribution networks.
The operator further advised the public to disregard misleading reports and obtain verified updates through its website, [www.niso.org.ng](http://www.niso.org.ng).