Nigeria’s power generation plunged on Monday, with 29 of the 33 power plants listed on the national grid dashboard recording zero output by 4:00 p.m., as households and businesses faced disruptions to electricity supply.

The national grid operator’s real-time dashboard, niggrid.org, reported generation of 230.30 megawatts (MW) at the time, down from about 3,840MW in the morning. However, the individual output figures displayed for four plants totalled 405.10MW, exceeding the reported aggregate.

Odukpani NIPP recorded 204MW, while Omotosho generated 174.80MW. Sapele steam plant contributed 24.60MW, and Trans-Amadi recorded 1.70MW.

Several major generating stations, including Egbin, Geregu, Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro, Afam VI, Delta, Okpai and Alaoji NIPP, recorded zero output in the displayed data.

The low power generation followed disruptions on the 330-kilovolt transmission network, which the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said occurred at about 12:40 p.m. on Monday, October 19.

NISO said it worked with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to stabilise the system and restore normal operations, declaring the grid stable after completing restoration efforts. It also clarified that the incident affected only a section of the grid, urging the public to rely on its official communication channels for updates.

However, the NIGGRID dashboard recorded generation of 567.10MW at 7:00 p.m., with Afam VI generating 200MW and Geregu contributing 98MW. The figures indicated that reported output remained low hours after the operator announced restoration was complete.

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The difference highlights the distinction between restoring stability to the transmission network and recovering electricity generation. While NISO said the grid had returned to normal operation, the dashboard continued to show limited output from generating plants.

Ikeja Electric attributed reduced supply hours across its network to a shortfall in electricity allocated from the national grid. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also reported a grid-related interruption, saying TCN’s technical team was working to restore supply to affected feeders.

The disruption has raised concerns about the cost of running businesses already struggling with high operating expenses. Muda Yusuf, chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, warned that prolonged outages would increase energy costs, reduce profit margins and threaten businesses’ ability to sustain jobs.

He said businesses without public electricity would have to rely on diesel, petrol or gas, adding that the duration of the disruption would determine the extent of the economic impact.

For manufacturers, retailers, hospitality businesses and cold-chain operators, unreliable electricity can mean spending more on fuel and generator maintenance or cutting operating hours. Businesses unable to absorb the additional expenses may raise prices or reduce production, while households face extra costs for alternative power.

The latest dashboard readings offer a picture of severely constrained generation on Monday, even as the grid operator reported that the transmission system had been stabilised. With distribution companies also reporting supply interruptions, the disruption left businesses and households contending with uncertainty over the availability of electricity and the cost of going without it.

Meiza Nigeria