Nigeria’s fragile electricity sector suffered another setback on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, after the national grid collapsed, disrupting power supply across major parts of the country.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the incident in a public notice posted on its official X handle. According to the statement, the collapse occurred at 11:23 am, cutting off electricity supply to its franchise areas and leaving millions of households and businesses in darkness.

The notice read:

“Please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid at 11:23 am today, affecting electricity supply across our franchise areas.”

The company assured customers that efforts were underway to restore power, adding that it was working with relevant stakeholders to stabilise the grid.

“Rest assured, we are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure power is restored once the grid is stabilised. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the AEDC said.

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A Recurring Challenge

This latest collapse adds to Nigeria’s long history of grid failures. According to reports, the national grid collapsed 12 times in 2024 and more than 100 times over the past decade, raising concerns about the reliability of the country’s power infrastructure.

Earlier in February 2025, the grid also suffered a collapse, throwing many regions into total blackout and sparking outrage among consumers and businesses already grappling with high energy costs.

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Government Response and Reforms

In April 2025, in response to the frequent collapses, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved six private firms and one university to generate and distribute their own electricity. This was part of ongoing efforts to decentralise power generation and reduce the nation’s dependence on the unstable national grid.

Interestingly, the NERC had earlier reported in July 2025 that there were no system disturbances in the first quarter of the year, suggesting that progress was being made before this latest incident.

“There was no incidence of system disturbance on the national grid in 2025/Q1,” the commission’s report stated.

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The Bigger Picture

The frequent collapses highlight Nigeria’s urgent need for investment in power infrastructure. Experts argue that without a reliable electricity system, the country’s industrialisation goals and economic growth will remain hindered.

For now, Nigerians continue to rely heavily on alternative sources such as generators, solar energy, and mini-grids, as the national grid struggles to provide stable and consistent power.