ANOTHER NATIONAL GRID COLLAPSE, SAME OLD STORY: NIGERIA’S ENDLESS POWER STRUGGLE

NATIONAL GRID

January has barely settled in and Nigeria has recorded yet another national grid collapse. Last year, January 2025 opened with the first collapse of the year, followed by several more incidents that Nigerians quickly lost count of. Now, in January 2026, the story has repeated itself. At this point, grid collapses no longer come as a shock.

For three straight years, from 2023 to 2025, Nigeria has been ranked among the countries with the least access to electricity in the world. Nearly 100 million Nigerians live without reliable power. That number is staggering, but what makes it worse is how normal it has become. Power outages are no longer disruptions; they are part of daily planning. People schedule their lives, businesses and even rest around the uncertainty of electricity.

When you place Nigeria’s power situation next to that of other African countries, the contrast is hard to ignore. South Africa, with about 64 million people, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts of electricity. Egypt, with roughly 115 million people, produces a similar amount. Algeria, with around 48 million people, generates over 50,000 megawatts. Meanwhile, Nigeria, with more than 240 million people, struggles with about 5,000 megawatts on average. For a country often described as Africa’s giant, this gap raises uncomfortable questions.

Its effect is everywhere. Small business owners spend more on fuel than on restocking their shops. Tailors, barbers, content creators and phone repairers depend on generators just to stay open. Students read with torchlights or wait endlessly for power to return. Hospitals and clinics operate with constant anxiety, hoping the lights stay on long enough to save lives. Reliable electricity should make life easier; in Nigeria, its absence makes everything harder.

Over time, many Nigerians have simply stopped expecting anything from the national grid. In many homes today, “NEPA light” is no longer part of the plan. Solar panels now sit on rooftops and balconies, powering homes, offices and small businesses. From charging phones to running televisions and freezers, solar energy has become the new backup and, in some cases, the main source of power. This shift shows how resourceful Nigerians are, but it also quietly reflects a loss of faith in the grid’s reliability.

A stable power supply supports industries, attracts investors, and creates jobs. When the grid keeps collapsing, productivity drops and the cost of doing business rises. Everyone pays the price, even those who can afford alternatives like generators and solar systems.

Fixing Nigeria’s power challenges is not a one-step solution. It requires consistent planning, technical expertise, and leadership that understands how central electricity is to national development. The power sector needs continuity, not constant resets, and long-term thinking rather than short-term reactions.

Until real stability is achieved, grid collapses will continue to be part of our national conversation and as more people turn to solar and other alternatives, the national grid risks becoming something Nigerians talk about more than they rely on. That reality alone should be enough reason to take the issue seriously, because light should not be a luxury in a country this full of potential.