Nigerians have criticised the Federal Government following the collapse of the national electricity grid on Friday, which plunged several parts of the country into darkness. Many described the recurring failures as a national embarrassment and a major setback for businesses and households.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that power generation dropped to zero megawatts at about 1 p.m., while electricity supply to all 11 distribution companies was completely cut. The affected firms include Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja and Yola, all of which recorded zero load allocation.
Reacting to the incident, several Nigerians said that the frequent grid collapses were disheartening and unacceptable for a country of Nigeria’s size. Some lamented that the power sector has continued to deteriorate, worsening economic hardship and disrupting daily life.
Others accused the government of negligence and poor planning, arguing that the instability of the grid reflects deeper structural problems in the power sector. While some respondents blamed politics and mismanagement, others urged the adoption of alternative energy solutions, including compressed natural gas, to reduce dependence on the national grid.
Several Nigerians also called for urgent reforms, including massive investment in transmission infrastructure, replacement of ageing facilities, and the deployment of modern grid monitoring systems. They stressed that improving electricity supply should be treated as a top national priority to prevent further economic losses and restore public confidence.
