The national energy grid operated centrally from Osogbo, Osun State, crashed at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, causing a statewide blackout.
This marks the fourth time the grid has collapsed in the year’s first three months.
Several distribution firms have verified that their feeders were rendered inactive, resulting in severe power outages nationwide.
The grid’s output, which stood at 2984 megawatts as of 4 p.m., fell to zero in an hour, with all 21 grid-connected facilities shutting down by 5 p.m.
This tragedy is another setback for Nigeria’s energy system, which recurrent problems have plagued despite privatization attempts aimed at regeneration.
Over the past decade after privatization, the grid has had 141 collapses, underscoring the industry’s systemic challenges.
