The national power grid collapsed again on Wednesday, throwing millions of Nigerians into blackout and sparking renewed outrage from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which accused the Federal Government of rewarding failure in the power sector.
Electricity supply was cut off nationwide around 11:20 am on September 10, 2025, after a major system disturbance.
Data obtained from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed that power generation dropped from 3,972 megawatts at 10 am to 20.80 MW by noon, effectively shutting down all 21 power plants connected to the grid.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed the disturbance, attributing it to the tripping of a generation company, which triggered a chain reaction that cascaded across the system.
Restoration efforts began at 11:45 am, starting with Abuja from the Shiroro hydropower station, with officials reporting that 1,505 MW had been restored by 6 pm.
While authorities worked to restore supply, the NLC issued a scathing statement condemning the collapse and rejecting the government’s proposal to inject ₦4 trillion ($2.7 billion) into electricity distribution and generation companies.
“The NLC has been made aware of a promised ₦4tn government payment for these same failed operators.
We reject this outright! To sink another kobo of public money into the pockets of these private entities is an act of economic betrayal against the Nigerian people,” said NLC President Joe Ajaero.
According to Ajaero, the recurrent collapses are not isolated accidents but evidence of a “deliberately engineered failure” in the privatised power sector.
“This recurrent catastrophe is not an accident; it is the direct and inevitable result of a capitalist ruling class that has deliberately engineered the power sector to fail, to loot, and to keep the Nigerian people in a state of perpetual underdevelopment,” he said.
The latest incident adds to Nigeria’s long history of grid instability.
Between 2015 and 2025, there have been at least 105 grid collapses:
Under former President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), the grid collapsed 93 times.
Since mid-2023, under President Bola Tinubu, several more incidents have been recorded, including a nationwide outage in February 2025.
For households and businesses, the blackouts have become an economic nightmare.
Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) spend billions annually on diesel and petrol generators to stay afloat, while manufacturing plants frequently cut production due to unreliable supply.
The labour union also criticized regulatory agencies, alleging that political appointments rather than meritocracy drive decision-making in the sector.
Ajaero cited the appointment of a former local government chairman with “no expertise in energy economics or engineering” as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), calling it “a reward for loyalty, not competence.”
“How can such leadership solve systemic crises when the sector is being run by political appointees whose only qualification is loyalty to ruling elites?” the NLC asked.
The Ministry of Power insisted that the ₦4tn intervention plan is aimed at stabilizing the sector and boosting investment in infrastructure.
A senior official, who spoke anonymously, argued that without such financial support, the generation and distribution companies would collapse entirely.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) assured customers that it was working closely with stakeholders to restore supply.
“Rest assured, we are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure power is restored once the grid is stabilised,” AEDC said in a statement.
The NLC has called for a public-sector-led approach to revive electricity supply rather than relying on bailouts for private operators.
It urged the government to channel funds into building new generation capacity and expanding transmission infrastructure.
“Since the government has ₦4tn to invest in the sector, we suggest that the funds must be redirected towards a public-led initiative to build new generation capacity and revitalise the transmission infrastructure instead of handing it over to the GenCos and DisCos,” the union stated.
The NLC further demanded a comprehensive public audit of the power sector since its privatisation in 2013, describing the model as a “neoliberal charade” that has failed Nigerians.
Energy analysts say the recurring collapses highlight deep-rooted structural problems. Dr. Emeka Ezeh, an energy economist, explained that Nigeria’s grid is overstretched and outdated.
“Our transmission infrastructure cannot handle peak generation levels, which remain far below demand.
Nigeria requires at least 30,000 MW to meet current needs, yet we barely generate 4,000 MW consistently,” he said.
Dr. Ezeh added that bailouts without reforms would only postpone future collapses.
“Throwing money at the problem without addressing poor management, regulatory inefficiencies, and lack of investment in modern infrastructure will keep us in a vicious cycle.”
For ordinary Nigerians, the latest blackout has reignited anger over the rising cost of living amid unreliable services. Many households complain of being billed heavily despite erratic supply.
“I paid ₦25,000 last month for electricity I hardly used because we were mostly on generators.
Now the grid has collapsed again. What exactly are we paying for?” asked Chidinma Okafor, a trader in Lagos.
Social media also lit up with frustration, with hashtags like #DarknessInNigeria and #EndPowerFailure trending on X (formerly Twitter).
The government now faces a tough balancing act between labour unions demanding systemic overhaul and private operators lobbying for bailouts.
The outcome of the NISO investigation into the latest collapse may shape future reforms.
For the NLC, however, the time for dialogue appears to be running out.
In its strongly worded statement, the union hinted at possible industrial action if the government fails to change direction.
“This is not a plea; it is a declaration of intent. The light must come on, by any means necessary,” Ajaero warned.
As Nigerians brace for further uncertainty, the power sector crisis continues to highlight the country’s struggle with governance, accountability, and infrastructure decay.
Unless meaningful reforms are implemented, the cycle of blackouts and bailouts may persist, deepening public frustration and economic hardship.